College Football Line – Two Struggling Pac-10 Teams Aim To Get Healthy

The Arizona State Sun Devils and USC Trojans find themselves in the middle of the Pac-10. They’ll both try to climb north in the standings and cover on the college football line when they play this weekend.

Arizona State Sun Devils @ USC Trojans

Saturday, November 6th – 10:35 PM ET

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles

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Broadcast: FSN-RM, NW

College Football Line: Arizona State +5.5, USC -5.5
College Football Line Total: 60.5

The Los Angeles Coliseum used to present one of the best home-field advantages in all of college football this decade.Now, it’s just another stadium. One of the most striking differences of Lane Kiffin’s first year as the USC coach from (former coach) Pete Carroll’s tenure is the Trojans’ record at home. Taking into account the end of Carroll’s last year, the Trojans have lost four of their last seven games in the Coliseum. USC will try to return to form Saturday when it hosts Arizona State in the last part of a three-game homestand. Coming off a 21-point loss to Oregon, the Trojans are looking to collect themselves for the stretch run of the Pac-10 schedule. USC has found as much success against Arizona State as any conference foe, holding a 10-game winning streak against the Sun Devils.

At 4-4, Arizona State is fighting an uphill battle for bowl eligibility with games at Stanford and Arizona still looming. A win against USC would go a long way toward salvaging the season and taking pressure off head coach Dennis Erickson. Uneven seasons have become the norm under Erickson at Arizona State. The Sun Devils came within an extra point of going to overtime on the road at Wisconsin and kept it close against Oregon and Oregon State. However, California steamrolled to a 50-17 win against Arizona State two weeks ago. A 42-0 win last week against Washington State helped build back a measure of confidence.

College Football Line: What Arizona State Has To Do To Win

ASU quarterback Steven Threet has been explosive but turnover-prone this season. The junior already has 13 interceptions on the year and four multiple interception games.In all, Arizona State is ranked 107th out of 120 FBS teams in turnover margin. The Sun Devils will have to be more careful with the ball than they were last year. In 2009, a defensive touchdown by USC’s Will Harris helped give the Trojans the edge in an ugly and virtually unwatchable 14-9 win. Arizona State had four turnovers in that game; only two or three turnovers might have enabled the Sun Devils to knock off the Trojans.

College Football Line: What USC Has To Do To Win

The theme of ball security applies just as much to the Trojans as it does to the Sun Devils. USC will also need to protect the ball, given the fact that quarterback Matt Barkley is coming off his third multiple-interception game of the season. The Sun Devils have the athletes on defense who can make an opponent pay dearly for a mistake. Arizona State’s defense leads the Pac-10 in tackles for loss. USC coach Lane Kiffin has raved about ASU’s roving defenders, cornerback Omar Bolden and linebacker Vontaze Burfict, saying he wished he had both of the Southern California products on his team.

The Trojans will also need a more consistent effort from their offensive line. After an impressive early-season performance, USC faltered against Oregon this past weekend. The Ducks were able to get constant pressure on Barkley to force errant throws. ASU defensive end Junior Onyeali could pose a threat to USC’s offensive line. The freshman recorded three sacks last week against Washington State en route to being named the Pac-10’s Defensive Player of the Week.

NCAA Handicapping: Outlook & Pick

When working with a 10-game streak, it’s unwise to pick against the streak. USC has had a very tough year, but Arizona State is struggling to an even greater extent. USC has the weapons needed to make life difficult for ASU’s defense. Take the Trojans in this late-night fight.

College Football Line Pick: USC -5.5