The 23rd-ranked USC Trojans and 13th-ranked LSU Tigers will battle in the Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic on Sunday, September 1, at 7:30 PM ET at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Tigers are slightly favored with a point spread at -4.5 (-105).
The Trojans won eight out of their 13 games last season and went 5-4 in the PAC-12 conference. They were 3-2 on the road, so this could put them at a disadvantage here.
They will have a new quarterback under center after losing Caleb Williams to the NFL Draft. D'Anton Lynn, the program's defensive coordinator, is in his first year.
The offense will have Miller Moss starting at quarterback. The last time fans saw him was against the Louisville Cardinals in the DirecTV Holiday Bowl, which they won 42-28. He had an impressive (and Holiday Bowl record) six touchdowns and 372 yards.
They also lost some talent on defense, but they were lucky in most games last year because of their prolific offense. With a new coordinator, they will be putting this to the test.
The Tigers went 10-3 last year and 6-2 in the SEC East. They were also undefeated through seven games at home, but this matchup will be at a neutral site. They went 2-2 on the road, so this will be more of an away game.
They defeated the Wisconsin Badgers 35-31 in the ReliaQuest Bowl and came back from a large deficit. This was a testament to a strong offense, as their defense showed weakness in this game and the season.
The staff has a handful of new faces focused on defense. Blake Baker is their new coordinator and had an excellent season with the Missouri Tigers last year. His presence will be key to this team's intensity on this side of the game.
They are weaker on the offensive line and do not have much depth defensively. Grant Nussmeier will now have complete control as their quarterback and has quality experience in the SEC to give their offense what it needs to succeed.
You can find appealing college football betting odds for the USC Trojans vs. LSU Tigers showdown through MyBookie, which currently has the Tigers with an edge. The Tigers are 4.5-point favorites to find success in their home opener.
Market insights suggest this will be a close game, as the Tigers have a 55.2 percent chance of winning. Both squads have appealing offensive lines and players that can make an impact down the stretch. Look for this to be close, with the Tigers pulling away late.
