The second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1, 4-0 Big Ten) will face the USC Trojans (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten) in a key Big Ten conference game on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Ohio State enters on a five-game winning streak and is 2-1 on the road this season, while USC is 4-1 at home in 2026.
USC leads the all-time series 13-10-1, though Ohio State won the last meeting 24-7 in the 2017 Cotton Bowl. The Buckeyes are 6.5-point favorites with an over/under of 50.5 points, down from an opening 55.5. Ohio State is 5-2 against the spread this season, while USC is 2-6.
According to the SportsLine Projection Model, which simulated the game 10,000 times, the Over 50.5 points is the recommended play. The Over has hit in three of Ohio State's last five games and five of USC's last nine. Ohio State leads the conference in scoring at 39.3 points per game, while USC averages 32.8.
The model projects Ohio State quarterback Luke Fahey, a true freshman starting in place of the injured Julian Sayin, to throw for 270 yards and two touchdowns. USC quarterback Jayden Maiava is projected for over 235 yards and one touchdown. The model forecasts 51 combined points, with the Over hitting 51% of the time.
The model also indicates one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations. The model entered Week 9 on a 68-59 run on top-rated college football picks, returning nearly $400 for $100 players.
