College Football

College football odds Week 1: How to bet Rice-USC

Updated Sep. 1, 2022 5:06 p.m. ET

Rice hits the road to take on USC in the first full week of the 2022 college football season.

The Owls are looking for their first winning season since 2014 and their first with head coach Mike Bloomgren.

Meanwhile, the Trojans have plenty of new faces in the building including former Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley as its head coach. Both programs are coming off four-win seasons.

Here's everything you need from a betting perspective on Saturday afternoon's Rice-USC game, from the point spread, moneyline, total over/under and expert pick (odds via FOX Bet).

Related: Top plays from Week 0

Rice @ No. 14 USC (6 p.m. ET Saturday, Pac-12 Network)

Point spread: USC -32.5 to win (USC favored to win by more than 32.5 points, otherwise Rice covers)
Moneyline: USC -10000 favorite to win (bet $10 to win $10.10 total); Rice +1800 underdog to win (bet $10 to win $190 total)
Total scoring over/under: 61.5 points scored by both teams combined

Rice went 3-9 against the spread (ATS) and 4-8 straight up (SU) while the over hit in nine of their 12 games last season. USC went 4-8 ATS and 4-8 SU while the over hit in six of their 12 games (five unders and one push) last season.

Rice is 2-3 ATS and 0-5 SU vs Pac-10/12 opponents since 2005. The Owls are 11-10-1 ATS and 3-19 SU as double-digit underdogs under Bloomgren (2018-present).

USC is 0-1 ATS and 1-0 SU vs C-USA opponents since 1996. They won but didn't cover as 20-point favorites vs Houston (now in the AAC). Riley is 17-25 ATS and 39-3 SU as a double-digit favorite in his head-coaching career

Pick via FOX Sports analyst Geoff Schwartz:

"I will be heavy on the fade USC train this season," he said. "The hype USC has gotten since the arrival of Lincoln Riley and their new roster of transfers is not surprising, but also completely out of touch with the reality of this team.

"USC will be excellent offensively, but the questionable defense has me thrilled to fade them early this season until proven otherwise.

"Rice is not a good football team, but they are geared to hold up against USC in the first half," he continued. "Rice is a run first offense and USC’s defense allowed rushing attacks to dominate them last season. Yes, they have transfers on defense, but they need all of them playing well in a new defense right away to stop Rice early in the first half.

"Also if there’s any growing period for the USC offense, it will happen early as well. So I will take Rice to cover the first half."

PICK: Rice (+21) to cover in the first half

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