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It’s Thanksgiving week and you know what that means – rivalries. In the final regular-season weekend of college football, there are some huge games on the top-10 slate.
With a thrilling 48-45 win over rival UCLA, USC locked up a spot in the Pac-12 championship game on Dec. 2.
To keep its hopes of earning a spot in the College Football Playoff alive, the Trojans will first have to dispatch another bitter foe, Notre Dame.
The Fighting Irish are coming off a 44-0 blowout of Boston College.
FrontPageBets looks at this game and another of interest for this week's best bets.
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings and subject to change.)
USC spread (-5.5) and Over (63) vs. Notre Dame
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
TV: ABC
The rationale: Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams moved up in the Heisman race by throwing for 470 yards and two touchdowns with an interception against the Bruins. He also ran for a score. Jordan Addison had 11 catches for 178 yards and a TD. RB Austin Jones had 120 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground for USC (10-1). The Irish (8-3) forced five Eagles turnovers. DB Benjamin Morrison had three interceptions and the defense scooped up two fumbles. Running back Logan Diggs had 122 yards and a score. USC is 7-4 against the spread. Notre Dame is 6-5. Â
The pick: USC, 38-31
UCLA spread (-10) and Under (60.5) vs. Cal
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m.
TV: FOX
The rationale:UCLA (8-3) came up just shy against USC. QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson was prolific, tossing for 309 yards and four TDs. But he also threw three interceptions and lost a fumble. Zach Charbonnet ran for 95 yards and WR Michael Ezeike caught three TDs. Cal (4-7) collected a 27-20 comeback win against rival Stanford. QB Jack Plummer passed for 280 yards with a score and two picks. Jaydn Ott ran for 97 yards and a score. Both teams are 6-5 against the spread.Â
Gerry Ahern is senior content editor for FrontPageBets. A 35-year veteran sports editor and digital media executive, he has led coverage of the biggest events in sports, from Super Bowls, to Final Fours, to Olympics, to the Masters.
