– Last Updated on December 22, 2022 3:19 pm
Free Week 3 Prediction: Cardinal vs Trojans
Week 3 College football betting sees the Stanford Cardinal taking on the #6 USC Trojans Saturday September 19th at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks all NCAA football season long so stay tuned for more FREE college football predictions.
Week 3
Stanford (1-1, 0-0 Pac-12) vs. #6 USC (2-0, 0-0 Pac-12)
Date: Saturday, September 19th
Time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – Los Angeles
NCAA Football Spread: USC -10
NCAA Betting Total: 50
NCAA Moneyline Odds: USC -110
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The first Pac-12 action between #6 USC and Stanford comes a little early this season, gifting us a week 3 game worth talking about. The potent offense of USC taking on the stingy defense of Stanford will make for a good game, no matter the outcome.
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Despite their early season loss to Northwestern, the Cardinal are ready to take it to the wire with the Trojans. Based on what we’ve seen from USC this season, they’ll be more than ready.
Stanford
David Shaw’s team lost a heartbreaker against the Wildcats with poor effort and poor execution.
That is in the past now, as Stanford is ready to play the way it has recently against USC – holding Cody Kessler to 135 yads passing in their last meeting as well as holding the Trojans to just 2.3 yards per carry in their last 3 meetings.
Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan lit up UCF last week, setting a career high in yards with 341. He had three passing touchdowns in that one. Freshman Bryce Love piled on the stats, gaining 143 yards through the air with a touchdown.
Receiver Michael Rector had 4 grabs for 86 yards and a score of his own, while running back Christian McCaffrey added another through the air on 4 catches for 59 yards.
McCaffrey also led the team in rushing, gaining 58 yards on the ground via 20 carries. Barry Sanders Jr. had a rushing score to go along with his 8 carries and 39 yards.
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Defensively, the Cardinal has put together quite a stat line. In two games, the team has amasses 131 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception, 14 passes defended, 6 QB hits, 3 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
#6 USC
Non-conference scheduling is made to get teams ready for their conference schedule. If the Trojans’ first two games have any indication for how the team will do in the Pac-12, then opponents should worry. USC has put up 114 points versus 15 so far.
Heisman hopeful quarterback Cody Kessler is a big reason for all those points. He has gone 45 of 57 for 650 yards, 7 touchdowns and NO interceptions.
His biggest target by far is sophomore wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster. On the season, the young receiver has amassed 281 yards and 3 scores on his 14 receptions. Adoree Jackson, another highly touted receiver, has 4 grabs for 62 yards while Isaac Whitney has 3 grabs for 66 yards and a score.
On the ground, the team has gone with a 3-headed monster, with Ronald Jones II and Tre Madden doing a lot of damage. On the year, Jones has rushed the ball 14 times for 169 yards and 2 scores while Madden has 19 carries for 142 yards and 3 scores.
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On defense, highly touted Su’a Cravens has been wreaking havoc. Third on the team in tackles with 8, he also has a tackle for loss, a sack, an interception and a quarterback hit.
As a unit, the team has 2 of each of the following: sacks, interceptions, fumbles and fumbles recoveries.
NCAA Football Handicapping Trends
Under is 5-0 in Cardinal last 5 games in September
Under is 13-3 in Cardinal last 16 conference games
Under is 7-1 in Cardinal last 8 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game
Under is 4-0 in Trojans last 4 conference games
Under is 8-3 in Trojans last 11 games in September
Free Week 3 NCAA Football Prediction
As fun as it would be to see this game go over the point total, it is highly unlikely that it will. David Shaw knows how to gameplan for the Trojans, who will have to get used to seeing a real defense in this one.
4* Free NCAA Betting Pick: Take the UNDER (50)
I have no doubt USC will win this, but not by blowout fashion like they did in weeks 1 and 2.
Week 3 Free Score Prediction: Stanford 10 – #6 USC 31
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CappersPicks.com has College football odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find NCAA football lines up for early games as well.