USC vs. Texas A&M Prediction & Picks: Las Vegas Bowl Odds

The USC Trojans (6-6) return to the place their season began to take on the Texas A&M Aggies (8-4) in the 2024 Las Vegas Bowl.

Our USC vs. Texas A&M prediction sees us back the betting favorite in the Las Vegas Bowl at the best college football betting sites. Kickoff from Allegiant Stadium is set for 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN).

The Aggies and the Trojans will covet their chances for a bounce-back effort after ending the season with undesirable results. Our winner pick is just one of many bowl game predictions this week.

Our college football bowl game opt-out tracker has you covered with the latest opt-out news and the impact on the college bowl game odds. 

USC vs. Texas A&M prediction & best pick: Las Vegas Bowl

College football picks based on the odds from our best college football betting sites. Odds subject to change.

• Against the spread pick: Texas A&M -3.5 () vs. USC ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• My best pick: Under 52 () ⭐⭐⭐

USC vs. Texas A&M ATS prediction

Texas A&M to cover the spread: -3.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -118 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 54.13%

The Trojans are losing too much firepower

As we previously stated in our early bowl game predictions, the opening spread for this game was surprisingly low. USC is losing a ton of offensive firepower to the transfer portal, including its second-leading rusher and three of its top five wide receivers.

Further, starting running back Woody Marks has since opted out, leaving new starting quarterback Jayden Maiava to fend for himself against Mike Elko's stubborn defense. Despite the defensive opt-outs for the Aggies, Elko is one of the best defensive minds in the sport, so he should have his ducks in a row ahead of the Las Vegas Bowl.

Elko has the Aggies playing for pride

One of the reasons Texas A&M fired Jimbo Fisher is because he couldn't take the program to the next step while in charge; 8-4 was almost always the program's ceiling. Thus, it seems odd to praise the job Elko's done to get his team to 8-4, but the expectations were much lower on the year with a depleted roster.

All of this is to say that, despite only covering at a 25 percent rate this season, the Aggies have played with a pride that's been missing in years past. Many bowls are often viewed as, for lack of a better term, meaningless. This is especially true for teams like USC that are plagued by long-term doubts surrounding their coach and heavy roster turnover.

Texas A&M fared better than the Trojans against both common opponents. The Aggies present a bad matchup for a USC team that let Riley Leonard rush all over it en route to giving up 49 points to Notre Dame. If Marcel Reed and Co. can move the ball, Texas A&M should control this game down the stretch with superior play in the trenches.

Most of our best sportsbooks list the Aggies as a 4-point favorite. However, FanDuel is holding strong with a 3.5-point line at -118.

USC vs. Texas A&M best pick

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Under 52 ⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -110 via Caesars | Implied probability: 52.38%

This game features two middle-of-the-pack scoring offenses, one of which is depleted by transfers, and the other has several key injuries. Texas A&M and USC average 30.3 and 29.8 points per game, respectively, which has likely contributed to this 52-point total.

I believe game script and strong scoring defenses will contribute to this game going Under. Both teams will look to keep the ball on the ground on offense due to matchups and opt-outs. They boast a pair of top-50 scoring defenses, and the Aggies' -0.066 EPA per play allowed ranks among the best in the country.

If both offenses were at full strength, this game could've been a shootout. But as is the nature of bowl season in the transfer portal era of college football, they are not. We'll lean Under, but with only three-star confidence, given "offensive guru" Lincoln Riley is standing on the Trojans' sideline after getting a lot of time to prep.

Caesars offers the most generous total (O/U 52) with standard juice, which carries a 52.38% implied probability. A $10 winning wager on the Under would profit $9.09.

USC vs. Texas A&M odds

See all of this week's college football odds and NCAAF scores.

USC vs. Texas A&M live odds

USC vs. Texas A&M opening odds:

• USC: +2.5 (-110 via BetMGM)
• Texas A&M: -2.5 (-110 via BetMGM)

USC vs. Texas A&M injuries

Las Vegas Bowl game info

• When: Friday, Dec. 27
• Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET
• Where: Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
• How to watch: ESPN/ESPN+
• Weather: Indoors
• Favorite: Texas A&M -4 (-110 via BetMGM)

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