Week 2: Stanford vs USC 9/10/22 College Football Picks, Predictions, Odds
USC Trojans (1-0) vs. Stanford Cardinal (1-0)
September 10, 2022 7:30 pm EDT
The Line: Stanford Cardinal +9 / USC Trojans -9 ; Over/Under: 64
(Get latest betting odds)
The Stanford Cardinal and USC Trojans clash Saturday in week 2 college football PAC-12 action from Stanford Stadium. USC is fresh off an opener game versus Rice. The Trojans won that game in a blowout. As for Stanford, they played Colgate in their first game of 2022. In that one the Cardinal also took a blowout victory. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place.
USC had a disappointing campaign in 2021 to say the least. The Trojans went just 4-8 overall and 3-6 in the Pac-12. That result put USC just two spots out of the basement in the South Division and out of a bowl game spot.
In the 2022 opener versus Rice, the Trojans scored 24 points in the second quarter and 28 more in the third during a 66-14 blowout win. QB Caleb Williams managed 249 yards and two scores. Tahj Washington led the receivers on 65 yards, and Williams led the rushers with 68 yards on six carries.
Over on the Stanford side, the Cardinal went 3-9 overall last year with a 2-7 run in the Pac-12 games. That result left the Cardinal in dead last over in the North Division and ahead of only Arizona at 1-8 among conference teams.
Matched up against Colgate on Saturday, the Cardinal scored 13 points in the final quarter to finish off a 41-10 victory. Tanner McKee managed 308 yards, two touchdowns and a pick. EJ Smith added 118 yards and two touchdowns off his 11 carries to lead the rushing attack.
PICK: I’m probably going to stay with USC. This should be a better matchup than either team’s opening game, however. The Trojans managed 538 yards of offense versus Rice, bagging 9.3 yards per play, 27 first downs, a 5-of-7 mark on third-down tries and just one punt. There’s really not much to complain about from that victory.
As for Stanford, they drilled Colgate for 497 yards, 8.6 yards per play and 20 first downs. The Cardinal were pretty sketchy on ball control however, losing three fumbles and an interception. If Stanford pulls it together I think they’ll be competitive here but I like USC on the eventual cover.
