The San Jose State Spartans seek their first victory against USC when they visit the sixth-ranked Trojans on Saturday for their 2023 season opener in Week 0. San Jose State lost each of its five previous meetings with USC, all of which were on the road. The most recent setback came in the 2021 opener as the Trojans cruised to a 30-7 triumph. USC hasn't lost a season opener at home since 1997, winning 15 in a row following its 14-7 loss to Florida State.
Kickoff at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is set for 8 p.m. ET. The Trojans are 31-point favorites in the latest USC vs. San Jose State odds per SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 66. Before making any San Jose State vs. USC picks, be sure to check out the college football predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $2,500 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on USC vs. San Jose State and just locked in its picks and CFB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college football odds and betting lines for SJSU vs. USC:
- USC vs. San Jose State spread: Trojans -31
- USC vs. San Jose State over/under: 66 points
- USC vs. San Jose State money line: Trojans -6667, Spartans +1663
- USC: The Trojans are 69-16-7 in season openers at home
- SJSU: The Spartans haven't beaten a ranked team on the road since defeating No. 10 Baylor on Nov. 1, 1980
- USC vs. San Jose State picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why USC can cover
The Trojans registered 11 victories last season after posting eight or fewer each of the previous four years, matching their highest total since winning 12 games in 2008. The club was favored by 30 or more points twice in 2022 and covered both times, defeating Rice by 52 as a 33-point favorite in the season opener and beating Colorado by 38 when it was favored by 34.5 points. Meanwhile, San Jose State is tied with New Mexico for the longest active losing streak against the spread in the FBS as it failed to cover in its final seven games last year.
USC is hoping for an encore from Caleb Williams, who captured the Heisman Trophy in 2022 after ranking third in the country with 4,537 passing yards and leading the nation with 42 touchdown throws. The 21-year-old quarterback made four or more scoring tosses on five occasions and led the Trojans with 10 rushing TDs. USC will be eager to erase the memory of the one-point loss to Tulane in last year's Cotton Bowl in which it squandered a 45-30 lead by allowing 16 points over the final 4:07 of the fourth quarter. Williams had one of his best performances in that contest as he threw for 462 yards and five touchdowns. See which team to pick here.
Why San Jose State can cover
The Spartans went 0-7 against the spread in their final seven games last season. They have done well of late as double-digit underdogs, however, covering eight of the last nine times. San Jose State also didn't have much difficulty scoring in 2022, recording at least 21 points in 10 of its 12 contests -- including each of the last six.
Head coach Brent Brennan is hoping his offense continues to have success hanging on to the football as the Spartans were third in the nation last season with only nine turnovers. Quarterback Chevan Cordeiro threw just six interceptions while setting a career high with 23 touchdown passes. The 23-year-old Hawaiian also was a key part of San Jose State's ground attack as he was second on the club with nine rushing scores -- the most by a Spartans signal-caller in a single season in the modern era and one fewer than team leader Kairee Robinson, who ran for only three TDs in 30 games over his first three seasons. See which team to pick here.
How to make San Jose State vs. USC picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the point total. It has also generated an against-the-spread pick that hits in nearly 60% of simulations. You can only get the model's picks at SportsLine.
So who wins USC vs. San Jose State, and which side of the spread cashes in nearly 60% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the San Jose State vs. USC spread to jump on, all from the advanced computer model that's up nearly $2,500 on its top-rated college football spread picks since its inception, and find out.
