Utah vs. USC odds: Early point spread released on Utes, Trojans

Week 8 of the college football season will pit two of the early favorites to win the Pac-12 title this season, the USC Trojans and the Utah Utes, against one another. This is a matchup with huge implications for the conference title. And according to FanDuel Sportsbook, the favorite to win in Week 8 is USC.

The Trojans are favored to come out of this contest with the win as they are installed as 3.5-point favorites. The over/under is set at 57.5.

Both teams enter the matchup with a 5-1 record, but the advantage in conference play goes towards USC as Utah fell to Oregon State earlier in the season. However, in terms of momentum, that goes to the Utes as the Trojans are attempting to bounce back from a 48-20 road drubbing at the hands of Notre Dame.

USC and Utah enter Saturday’s contest, riding two different waves of momentum. In Week 7, USC suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame forced last season’s Heisman Trophy winner quarterback Caleb Williams into playing his worst game of that season with three interceptions and one passing touchdown. Utah, on the other hand, has bounced back from their one loss of the season, including this week’s 34-14 home victory against the California Golden Bears.

USC has been led by their offense, orchestrated by Williams for the second year in a row. Williams has thrown for 2,021 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. The Utes have smothered nearly every offense they have squared off against this season. The lone exception would be their loss against Oregon State, where they allowed a season-high 21 points and 358 yards of total offense.

Aside from the significant implications this game has in helping to decide the outcome of the Pac-12 conference, it is also a huge revenge game for USC. Last season, the Trojans’ lone regular season loss came at the hands of the Utes by one point. The two teams would face each other for a second time in the Pac-12 title game, where USC looked like they were well on their way to getting revenge before a leg injury limited Williams for much of the game. USC ultimately lost the Pac-12 crown, getting ran out of the title game 47-24 and subsequently knocked out of the College Football Playoff.

ESPN sees things the same as FanDuel Sportsbook in this Week 8 bout between Pac-12 Titans. ESPN’s matchup predictor currently gives the Trojans a 76.7 percent chance of victory for their Saturday night showdown on October 21.