UNLV vs. USC Total Prediction
The USC Trojans are massive favorites for their season-opener on Saturday afternoon against the UNLV Rebels. We know USC will score plenty but will UNLV contribute enough offense to push the total over?
Game Snapshot
189 UNLV Rebels vs. 190 USC Trojans
4:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, September 1, 2018
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Trojans are 26.5-point favorites to beat the Rebels. The total, meanwhile, sits at 63.5 points. As of this writing, 72% of the public betting tickets wagered on this matchup are on the Trojans.
UNLV Rebels
UNLV received a verbal commitment from three-star 2019 QB Travis Mumphrey, who had previously been committed to New Mexico. Mumphrey had offers from several Power Five schools, including Arizona, Georgia Tech, Tennessee and Indiana. He instead commits to the Rebels, and 6-foot, 186-pound signal-caller just might be the quarterback of the future for UNLV. He ranks 32nd among dual-style quarterbacks in 247 Sports composite rankings, and the Louisiana native ranks 62nd among prospects in the strong class in the state.
USC Trojans
USC freshman RB Markese Stepp has been ruled out against UNLV on Saturday. Stepp (6’0/230) has cleared the concussion protocol, but he will still miss Saturday’s game. The four-star freshman will be a fourth option at RB when he returns with Stephen Carr, Aca’Cedric Ware, and Vavae Malepeai soaking up most of the work.
Betting Trends
UNLV
The over is 8-1 in the Rebels’ last nine non-conference games and 21-10 in their last 31 games overall.
USC
The over is 6-2 in the Trojans’ last eight games overall and 11-5-1 in their last 17 non-conference games.
Prediction
UNLV should have enough offense to chip in for over bettors on Saturday. Armani Rogers, Lexington Thomas and Charles Williams, as well as a big, powerful offensive line gives the Rebels a chance to sneak up on opponents this season. The UNLV defense gave up at least 31 points in six of seven losses a year ago and while the Rebels have a new coordinator in Tom Skipper, he has his work cut out for himself this year. On the other side, quarterback is a question mark at USC with Sam Darnold gone, but there are no other challenges for this Trojan offense. Both teams should score plenty this weekend in Southern Cal.
College Football Week 1 Prediction: UNLV/USC over 63.5