USC vs. Fresno State Picks Today: Prediction, Props and Best Bets for Friday Night

USC vs Fresno State Picks in Summary

• USC -21.5 (-110)
• Jayden Maiava Under 257.5 Passing Yards (-114)

USC will look to build on a season-opening victory when it welcomes Fresno State to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum tonight.

The Trojans showed plenty of offensive firepower in Week 0, and they'll enter this matchup as a sizable home favorite. Fresno State presents a tougher test after winning nine games last season, though the Bulldogs will be breaking in a new starting quarterback against a USC team with College Football Playoff aspirations.

Using the college football odds at FanDuel Sportsbook as a guide, here are the best bets for this game.

All college football odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and may change after this article is published.

USC vs Fresno State Prediction and Picks

USC -21.5 (-110)

The USC Trojans‘ shaky fourth quarter against San Jose State makes this wager a little scary, but I'm willing to lay the points with the Trojans.

USC completely controlled the first three quarters of its opener. The Trojans scored touchdowns on four of their first five possessions, led 28-0 at halftime and held a 35-3 advantage entering the fourth quarter. They finished with 505 yards, 29 first downs and a stellar 9-for-13 conversion rate on third down.

The Fresno State Bulldogs‘ defense should provide more resistance than San Jose State's did, but the Bulldogs could have serious problems scoring enough offensively to stay within this number. Fresno State averaged only 25.8 points and 353.8 total yards per game last season, with much of its offensive production coming on the ground.

More importantly, junior Jayden Mandal has been named Fresno State's starting quarterback. Mandal enters his first career start having attempted just nine collegiate passes, and two of those attempts resulted in interceptions.

That's a difficult situation against a USC team that should be able to build an early lead and force Fresno State away from its preferred ground-heavy approach.

Plus, after the way the fourth quarter went last week for USC, they’ll likely keep their foot on the gas all game.

Jayden Maiava Under 257.5 Passing Yards (-114)

For a player prop, I'll take Jayden Maiava to finish under 257.5 passing yards.

Maiava was outstanding against San Jose State, completing 25 of 29 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns while adding another score on the ground. He completed 86.2% of his attempts and was named the AP National Player of the Week.

But this is a substantially more difficult matchup through the air. Fresno State allowed only 153.8 passing yards per game last season, and opposing quarterbacks completed just 53.8% of their attempts versus Fresno.

There is also some potential game-script help for the under. USC is favored by more than three touchdowns, so later in the game, USC may lean on a deep backfield, one that produced 164 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns against San Jose State.

Maiava is certainly capable of getting beyond 257.5 yards, but between Fresno State's pass defense and the possibility of USC playing from well ahead, I prefer the under at this number.

College Football Betting FAQ

What are the most common college football bets?

The most common college football bets are the point spread, moneyline, and game total. Bettors can also wager on player props, team totals, alternate spreads, and futures such as conference champions or the national championship winner.

How does the point spread work in college football betting?

The point spread gives one team a handicap to create a more even betting market. If a team is listed at -7.5, it must win by at least eight points for a spread bet on that team to cash. A team listed at +7.5 can lose by seven points or fewer — or win outright — and still cover the spread.

What does over/under mean in college football?

An over/under, also called a game total, is a wager on the combined number of points scored by both teams. Bettors can choose whether the final score will finish over or under the sportsbook's posted total.

What should you consider before betting on college football?

Matchups, quarterback play, offensive and defensive efficiency, injuries, pace, home-field advantage, and coaching tendencies can all be important.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.