LSU vs USC Preview, Odds, and Prediction For 9/1/2024

LSU Tigers will face USC Trojans at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on September 1, 2024, at 7:30 pm ET. DraftKings Sportsbook favors the LSU Tigers by four points going into this non-conference matchup. Currently, 59% of spread bets are for the LSU Tigers and 41% are on the USC Trojans. The total of 64 points has led to 73% of bets on the under and 27% on the over. Here, you will find our best bet for LSU vs USC from the desert on Monday.

LSU Faces Tough Test In First Game Post-Jayden Daniels

Last season, the LSU Tigers had the Heisman Trophy winner playing quarterback for them. But Jayden Daniels is no longer a member of the Tigers after being drafted by the Washington Commanders in the most recent NFL Draft. Now it is up to new starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier to take the reins and to guide this LSU team to a win in a huge early-season test against the USC Trojans.

Nussmeier has been with LSU for three seasons already but hasn't seen much on-field action. He has thrown a total of 219 passes over the last three seasons, throwing 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions in that limited action. He will be forced to perform right away in this matchup between ranked teams if LSU wants to avoid suffering an early loss that could make a potential path to the College Football Playoff a lot tougher to negotiate with SEC play still looming down the road.

USC Preparing For Life Without Caleb Williams

The USC Trojans also had a Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback last season in 2022 Heisman winner Caleb Williams. The Trojans had an underwhelming season as a whole last year, going 8-5 overall, which had more to do with bad defending than the play of Williams. Still, Lincoln Riley's team will have to figure out which direction to go offensively without Williams at the helm to start this season, their first as a member of the Big Ten.

Just like LSU, USC is likely to lean on an inexperienced quarterback to start this season. Miller Moss is likely to get the nod in this game, after three years of backup duty with the Trojans. As is the case with Nussmeier for the Tigers, the key to this game for Moss will be not speeding himself up under pressure and making the kinds of catastrophic mistakes that can cost a team a game.

LSU vs USC Best Bet

This should be a highly competitive game and one where the defenses have a better chance than usual to slow down LSU and USC offenses. Thanks to the lack of experience at the quarterback position on both sides of this matchup, we will take the under and hope for a slow start from both of these powerhouse programs.

Be sure to check out all our free NCAAFB picks here.