Over the last five seasons, either the USC Trojans or Utah Utes have participated in every Pac-12 Championship Game, with each team winning once. The rivals will collide for the first time this year as the No. 4 Trojans meet the 12th-ranked Utes in the 2022 Pac-12 Championship Game on Friday. USC (11-1, 8-1 Pac-12) won the title in 2017 but suffered a 31-24 loss to Oregon three years later. Utah (9-3, 7-2) is looking to repeat as champion as it defeated the Ducks 38-10 last season after losing its appearances in 2018 and 2019. The Utes handed the Trojans their only loss of 2022 in October, posting a 43-42 victory as Cameron Rising threw for 415 yards and two touchdowns while also running for three scores.
Kickoff at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. is set for 8 p.m. ET. The Trojans are 3-point favorites in the latest USC vs. Utah odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 67.5. Before making any Utah vs. USC picks or Pac-12 Championship Game 2022 predictions, you need to see what the SportsLine Projection Model has to say.
The model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past six-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $2,500 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on USC vs. Utah and locked in its picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the CFB odds and betting trends for Utah vs. USC:
- USC vs. Utah spread: Trojans -3
- USC vs. Utah over/under: 67.5 points
- USC vs. Utah money line: Trojans -155, Utes +130
- USC: The Trojans are 1-10 against the spread in their last 11 neutral-site games
- UTAH: The Utes are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 contests following a straight-up win
- USC vs. Utah picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why USC can cover
Despite losing their regular-season meeting with Utah on a touchdown and 2-point conversion in the final minute, the Trojans received a superb performance from Heisman Trophy candidate Caleb Williams. The sophomore quarterback threw for 381 yards and made five touchdown passes in the setback, including two to senior tight end Josh Falo. Williams is seventh in the country with 3,712 passing yards and tied for sixth with 34 TD tosses.
Sophomore wideout Mario Williams hauled in four passes for 145 yards against the Utes while junior Jordan Addison had seven catches for 106 yards and a touchdown. The Trojans are third in the nation in scoring with an average of 42.5 points and have produced fewer than 30 just once this season. They rank fifth in total yards (506.6) and sixth in passing at 322.6 yards per contest.
Why Utah can cover
The Utes suffered a three-point loss to Oregon two weeks ago and took out their frustrations on Colorado this past Saturday, earning a spot in the conference title game in the process. Utah racked up 662 yards of total offense, tying the school record for most in a road game and marking the first time it eclipsed 600 since registering 628 against Weber State in 2013. The Utes accumulated 383 yards on the ground, with four players gaining more than 60.
Ja'Quinden Jackson led the rushing attack as he set career highs with 10 carries, 117 yards and three touchdowns. The freshman surpassed Colorado's rushing total for the game (62 yards) with a 66-yard TD run in the third quarter, the longest by a Ute since T.J. Pledger's 96-yarder on Nov. 5, 2021 at Stanford. Sophomore Micah Bernard carried 12 times against Colorado for 91 yards and a score while freshman Jaylon Glover and sophomore Bryson Barnes each rushed for 62 yards, with Glover also running for a touchdown.
How to make Utah vs. USC picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 63 combined points. It also has generated an against-the-spread pick that cashes in well over 50% of simulations. You can only get the model's Pac-12 Championship Game picks at SportsLine.
So who wins USC vs. Utah? And which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to back, all from the advanced model that has crushed its college football picks, and find out.