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USC Trojans vs. Hawaii Warriors Gambling Prediction & Week 1 Preview

Trojans vs Warriors NCAA Football Spread/Handicapping

The USC Trojans and the Hawaii Warriors are set to kick off the 2013 college football season in a Thursday-night matchup Aug. 29. Both teams have a lot to prove, as both are coming off of disappointing 2012 campaigns.

No. 25 USC Trojans (0-0) @ Hawaii Warriors (0-0)
Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013, 11:00 PM ET @ Aloha Stadium
Moneyline: N/A
Spread: USC -22.5
O/U: 53.5

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The Warriors, although not expected to be great, went just 3-9. USC, the preseason No. 1 seed, lost six games en route to finishing unranked. It’s a new year for both squads, and setting the tone will be key to finding success.

USC Trojans

The Trojans not only have the hurdle of bouncing back from a substandard year, but they have to do it while adjusting to a new rotation. A number of positions will have new faces this season, and you’d better believe that Lane Kiffin’s once-cozy head coaching seat is getting hot.

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At quarterback, Max Wittek and Cody Kessler have competed all offseason to earn the nod as the starter. Kiffin has yet to name a permanent starter, as evidenced by the fact that both players will see time behind center in Week 1. The hope is that this is a temporary solution, but for the time being, we’ll see both players fight for the job in front of our own eyes.

If there’s anything going for the offense, it’s the return of Marquis Lee. The wide receiver reportedly doesn’t care which player is named quarterback, and it’s easy to see why. He pulled in 14 touchdowns for 1,721 yards in 2012, and it’s clear that he’s a playmaker regardless of who’s throwing him the ball.

On the ground, USC will be without its No. 1 back, Silas Redd. He suffered a meniscus tear during spring practice, and he won’t be available against Hawaii. However, the Trojans have two other players more than capable of carrying the load in Justin Davis and Tre Madden. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

Hawaii Warriors

For the second year in a row, the Warriors get the opportunity to strut their stuff against USC in the season opener. Last year didn’t go so well, as Hawaii fell 49-10 in Los Angeles, and if we’re being honest with ourselves, this year shouldn’t be much different.

The team has recently relieved its offensive coordinator of his duties, which creates a whole lot of mystery as to where the program is headed. To make matters worse, Sean Schroeder, the team’s starting QB from last season, is unavailable following back surgery.

In 2012, Hawaii ranked 101st in passing yards, 114th in rushing yards, 102nd in points per game and 107th in points allowed. This team has a little bit of momentum entering the year, as it won its last two games, but a 3-9 record doesn’t give fans much confidence heading into this one.

Chances are, we’ll see USC come out with confidence against a team that lacks direction. We’re bound to see some slip ups between new faces, but the team still has the talent to be big favorites against the Warriors.

If the Trojans have this game in hand, don’t expect them to let up too much.

Both quarterbacks are trying to show what they can do, and the coaching staff needs to know whom it should play moving forward.

The Trojans won this matchup by 39 points last year, and while they might not hit that mark this time around, they’re sure to win in convincing fashion.

O/U Pick: Over
Score Prediction: USC 41 – Hawaii 14

By Cappers Picks

Articles on CappersPicks.com are written by Q (the Head Honcho) at Cappers Picks or by our resident "in house" handicapper Razor Ray Monohan! Enjoy the free picks folks! "Pad that bankroll one day at a time!"