USC Trojans vs UCLA Bruins 11-19-22

Texas A&M vs USC Prediction 12/27/2024: College Football Picks

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Texas A&M vs USC Prediction

What: SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
When: Friday, December 27, 2024 at 10:30 EST/7:30 PST
Where: Allegiant Stadium (Artificial Turf), Las Vegas, Nevada
Texas A&M vs USC Line: Texas A&M -3.5
Total: 51.5
TV: ESPN

Texas A&M vs USC Preview

Texas A&M (8-4, 5-3 in Big 12) faces USC (6-6, 4-5 in Big Ten) in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl at Allegiant Stadium in Sin City on Friday night in the 5th of the day’s 5 Bowls. This will be the 4th time these two iconic FBS programs will have met with the Trojans winning the previous 3. In their last 5 games, the Aggies went 2-3, topping LSU by 15 (38-23), losing at South Carolina by 24 (44-20), crunching New Mexico State by 35 (38-3), losing at Auburn by 2 in 4 OTs (43-41) and then losing to CFP Quarterfinalists and rivals Texas in the Regular Season Finale by 10 (17-7). In its last 5 games, the Trojans also went 2-3, beating Rutgers by 22 (42-20), losing at Washington by 5 (26-21), defeating Nebraska by 8 (28-20) and rivals UCLA by 6 to become Bowl eligible (19-13), and then losing to CFP Quarterfinalists Notre Dame by 14 in their Regular Season finale (49-35).

Texas A&M is Without QB Weigman For the Las Vegas Bowl 

Texas A&M (3-9-0 ATS, 7-5-0 O/U) was one of the worst ATS teams in FBS, and the Aggies (-179 Moneyline) head in here without their original starting and then backup QB Conner Weigman who will be transferring to Houston for next season. A&M has 5 players in the Transfer Portal, including Weigman and WR Cyrus Allen (259 Receiving yards) and 3 Opt-Outs in DE’s Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton and DT Shemar Turner. Marcel Reed (1,572 Passing yards, 12 TD, 4 Interceptions) will lead the Aggies who are 20-22 in 42 Bowl games and lost in the 2023 Texas Bowl to Oklahoma State by 2 points (23-21).

Texas A&M Betting Trends

  • Texas A&M is 3-7-0 ATS in the last 10 games overall
  • The Over is 5-2-0 in the Aggies’ last 7 games
  • Texas A&M is 7-3-0 SU in its last 10 games
  • QB Reed has been High-Passer in 8 of the team’s 12 games
  • Texas A&M went 5-7-1 ATS last 2023 NCAAF season (41.7%)

USC Will Also be Without Starting QB Miller Moss

USC (7-5-0 ATS, 6-6-0 O/U) found life in the Big Ten harder than expected and the Trojans (+150 Moneyline) will be without QB Miller Moss (2,555 Passing yards, 18 TD, 9 Interceptions, transferring to Louisville), so Jayden Maieva (906 Passing yards, 7 TD, 3 Interceptions) is the new guy behind Center. RB Woody Marks (1,133 Rushing yards, 9 TD) also Opted-Out as did several key Trojans players including RB Quinten Joyner (478 Rushing yards, 3 TD. 7.6 ypc) who has signed to play for CFP Quarterfinalist Ohio State next year, meaning that Bryan Jackson (122 Rushing yards) may get the bulk of the carries. USC also has 3 WRs in the Transfer Portal Kyron Hudson USC (7-5-0 ATS, 6-6-0 O/U) faces challenges heading into the Texas A&M vs USC matchup on December 27, 2024. With QB Miller Moss transferring to Louisville, Jayden Maieva steps in as the new quarterback. Additionally, key players like RB Woody Marks and RB Quinten Joyner have opted-out, impacting USC’s offensive lineup. The absence of these players is likely to hamper the Trojans both physically and mentally. (signed with Penn State), Duce Robinson (signed with FSU), and Zachariah Branch. All of these absences can’t help but limit the Trojans both physically and mentally.

USC Betting Trends

  • USC is 0-4-0 ATS in its last 4 games overall
  • The Trojans are 3-7-0 ATS in their last 10
  • The Over is 5-2-0 in the last 7 USC games
  • The Trojans won 6 straight before going 1-3 SU in their last 4
  • USC went 4-9-0 ATS in the 2023 NCAAF season (30.8%)

Texas A&M vs USC Prediction

This game seems like an edge to Texas A&M with Marcel Reed getting more Playing Time than Jayden Maieva, and with no marks and those 3 aforementioned WRs, it seems the SEC side has the stronger Roster with all of the Trojans missing players. The close Las Vegas Site may favor USC a bit, but expect many fans from both schools in the stands at Allegiant Stadium—the home of the Las Vegas Raiders—on Saturday night. This Texas A&M vs USC NCAAF pick will side with the Aggies who average 29.8 ppg (Tied-#41) and allow 21.2 ppg (#28) over USC which averages 29.8 ppg (#54) and allows 23.5 ppg (#56). This might be one of those games to buy the half-point and take the line down to (Texas A&M minus) 3 just to be safe.

Kevin’s Pick: Texas A&M -3.5