USC heads to Lincoln on Saturday night with momentum and a top-25 ranking, and Joel Klatt thinks the matchup tilts toward the Trojans. No. 23 USC (5-2) plays at Nebraska (6-2) at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
USC heads to Lincoln on Saturday night with momentum and a top-25 ranking, and Joel Klatt thinks the matchup tilts toward the Trojans. No. 23 USC plays at Nebraska at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC; the Trojans are 6.
5-point favorites and the game total is around 59.5., Klatt framed USC as a team crossing from close losses into close wins. "I think USC is trending toward being a really good football team. The process of becoming great is you lose big, then you lose small, and then you start winning small before you ever win big — and they're right on that tipping point," Klatt said. "This is a favorable matchup because if USC is balanced and can run it, you can't stop them; it's when they become one-dimensional that they've had issues." He added that recent setbacks at Illinois and Notre Dame shouldn't obscure the trajectory. USC enters Week 10 with the nation's No. 1 total offense , No. 2 scoring offense , and a top-three passing attack . Quarterback Jayden Maiava is completing 69% with 16 TDs to four interceptions, while receivers Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane headline the outside threats. Lemon leads USC with 758 receiving yards. The run game has been consistent too with over 200 rushing yards per game, giving Lincoln Riley options at the line of scrimmage.Klatt's concern for Nebraska is the run defense. The Huskers rank 15th in the Big Ten against the run, allowing 156.5 yards per game, and their two most recent high-level tests bear that out — No. 21 Michigan beat them in Lincoln with three long touchdown runs, and Minnesota piled up 186 rushing yards in a 24-6 win. If USC keeps its run/pass mix, Klatt argued, Nebraska will struggle to get the Trojans off schedule. Offensively, Nebraska has improved behind freshman QB Dylan Raiola and RB Emmett Johnson , and Memorial Stadium at night is never simple. But Klatt remains skeptical. "The question becomes: Is USC getting over 30? My answer is yes. Is Nebraska getting to 30? My answer is no," he said, before making his pick. "I like USC to put themselves back on the map for a November push. Trojans 34-21 — they cover the 6.5 on the road."USC's closing slate includes Iowa on Nov. 15 and a trip to No. 6 Oregon on Nov. 22, giving the Trojans multiple opportunities if they handle business in Lincoln. Saturday is also their first game since the Oct. 18 loss at No. 13 Notre Dame after an earlier road slip at No. 23 Illinois. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.In addition to writing for On SI, Patrick is also a site expert for Canes Warning and has previously written for outlets such as Betsided, Orlando Magic Daily and Southbound and Down. He serves as a sideline reporter for ESPN+, covering UCF athletics and the Big 12 Conference. In 2024, he hosted a live, on-site UCF football pregame show that aired on ESPN+. Patrick has interviewed numerous figures in the college sports world, ranging from players to UCF’s athletic director. Recently, he traveled to Mobile, Ala., to cover the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl, where he spoke with multiple NFL Draft prospects. Patrick also hosts coverage of the Orlando Magic for Digest Media on YouTube and has become one of the leading voices on the team in the region. Patrick also helps run the social media department for The Voice of College Football Network, focusing on breaking news and digital storytelling. Patrick previously spent time at CNN in the sports department, where he assisted with CNN’s World Sport show and Bleacher Report updates for morning programming. Hailing from the Tampa Bay Area, Patrick is a lifelong fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Lightning, Orlando Magic and UCF Knights.
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