USC vs. Cal Odds 2011 College Football Picks Week 7: The Cal Golden Bears play a Thursday night ESPN televised game the second week in a row after losing to the Oregon Ducks last Thursday. This time Cal's the home team when they host their old rivals from the South, the USC Trojans. The game will be played at AT&T Park in San Francisco, with kickoff set for 9 p.m. ET. The Trojans are listed as 3-chalk College Football Odds favorites at sportsbook SBGglobal.com for tonight's game with a combined score total (over/under) of 58. As home underdogs; Cal backers are getting +135 moneyline odds for a SU win while USC is givng -155.
USC, which outlasted Arizona in a 48-41 shootout at home last Saturday, features two of the nation's premier offensive players in QB Matt Barkley, who's fifth on USC's career passing and total offense lists, and WR Robert Woods, who leads the nation in receptions and is third in all-purpose running.
The Golden Bears, who lost 43-15 to the Ducks in Week-6, have plenty of talent coach Jeff Tedford can take advantage of versus a USC defense that has some issues. Cal's offense has improved significantly through the team's first five games of 2011, especially at wide receiver. The unit has a one-two punch with Sophomore Keenan Allen and Marvin Jones who has led the team in both receptions and receiving yards each of the last two seasons. Zach Maynard, who transferred in from Buffalo last year, has been impressive during his first four games as Cal's starting QB, completing 72-of-138 passes for 1,073 yards with 10 touchdown throws and three interceptions for a 137.05 passer efficiency rating.
For Cal to win the game, it will need to find a way to contain a USC passing game that ranks third in the Pac-12 and 15th nationally by averaging 317.8 yards per game through the air. The Bears are second in the Pac-12 in pass defense but 74th nationally, allowing 228.4 yards per game.
In sports betting its hard to win them all and I whiffed on last weeks call predicting the Bears would cover a 21-point chalk versus the Ducks. At the half, I thought the Golden Bears would cover leading 15-14. However, the Ducks reeled off 29 unanswered points to cover the chalk. This week Cal is a +3 home underdog to USC, a game Cal has an excellent chance of winning. I love home underdogs and this one is no different. My College Football Odds pick – Cal Golden Bears +3.
Reno Gold is the hottest CFB handicapper in the country right now after going 8-0-1 in Week-5 with ATS and Totals Picks followed by 6-3-0 in Week-6. With his 75.4 winning percentage, Gold performed better than the precious metal he is named after. His College Football Picks record heading into Week-7 is 43-14-3 on spreads and totals. Check daily for Reno Gold's opinion on all the the top games each week for free. Feel free to sign up to get Free NCAAF Picks now!
