Michigan vs USC Odds for Week 4: Who Is Favored to Win?

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Key Takeaways:

  • Favorite: Michigan is a home underdog against USC in Week 4.
  • Michigan's Chances: Michigan has a 38.4% chance to beat the Trojans, based on implied probability.
  • Point Spread: MICH +4.5 at DraftKings.
  • Over/Under: 44 (down 8 since opening)
  • Moneyline: MICH (+160) | USC (-192)

In an early season battle of ranked teams, No. 18 Michigan football will host No. 11 USC on Sep. 21 at 3:30 PM. After opening as touchdown favorites in the preseason, the Wolverines' slow start to the season flipped the odds, making the Trojans 4.5-point favorites on the road.

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore is shaking up things up, making a change at quarterback from Davis Warren to Alex Orji this week. If you want to bet on U-M, now is the time. Below, I break down the latest Michigan vs USC odds from top sportsbooks.

🚨 ODDS ALERT: Key updates to college football odds happen Friday morning, when Michigan moved from +6.5 to +4.5 in 24 hours.

Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Must be 21+ to participate & present in MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions. US promotional offers not available in NY, NV, or Puerto Rico.

Michigan vs USC Odds At A Glance

This matchup's outlook has changed drastically week-over-week. Check out this overview of the latest Michigan vs USC odds below. 👇

⭐ FavoriteUSC
⚖️ Michigan Win38.4% (+3%)
🔢 Point SpreadUSC -4.5 (-1)
📊 MoneylineMICH +160, USC -192
📈 Game TotalO/U 44 (-2.5)
✅ Last VerifiedDecember 2024

⭐ Latest Odds from BetMGM Sportsbook Michigan

If you want to bet on this battle of college football greats, continue reading our guide below.

Comparing the Best Odds for Michigan vs USC

Use our real-time odds widget below to find the best Michigan vs USC odds available.

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Michigan vs USC Injury Report

See if any key players are injured for either team in our updated injury report below.

Michigan vs USC Trends Entering the Game

Take a look at how each team's season is going entering the game in the table below.

No. 18 Michigan (2-1)No. 10 USC (2-0)
31-10 W vs. Fresno State27-20 W vs. No. 18 LSU
31-12 L vs. No. 2 Texas48-0 W vs. Utah State
28-18 W vs. Arkansas StateBYE
vs. USCat Michigan
Michigan vs USC odds

Who Is Favored to Win in Michigan vs USC?

Michigan is a 4.5-point underdog at home against USC, according to the most popular betting apps.

What Is the Spread5

The point spread for Michigan football vs USC is USC -4.5. So, for the Wolverines to cover the spread, they need to lose by four points or less. If the Trojans win by five points or more, then USC -4.5 would cover. You cannot push on that line.

Shopping the Odds:

What Is the Moneyline?

The moneyline for USC football vs Michigan is MICH +160 and USC -192 at FanDuel. Moneyline bets are simpler to understand since the only stipulation is your team winning the game outright.

Shopping the Odds:

  • If you want to bet on Michigan, the best odds you can get are +175 at ESPN BET.
  • If you want to bet on USC, the best odds you can get are -192 at DraftKings.

What Is the Over/Under?

The total (or over/under) for Michigan vs USC is set at O/U 44 points. If you bet on the over, there needs to be 45 points or more combined between both teams to cash your ticket. If the total score is exactly 44, then the wager will push and you'll receive your bet amount.

Shopping the Odds:

  • If you want to bet on the over, the lowest total is 43.5 at ESPN BET.
  • If you want to bet on the under, the highest total is 44.5 at FanDuel Sportsbook.

How Do I Bet on Michigan vs USC?

To start betting on the Michigan vs USC odds, sign up for a legal betting app. You can place a bet on a smartphone within minutes by downloading any of these sportsbook promos

These are our favorite promotions available to use for CFB season:

Michigan Wolverines Chances To Win vs USC Trojans

These two storied programs will face off for the first time in over 15 years and the first time at the Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan since 1958. Currently, the Wolverines are favored by 8.5 points. Both teams lost a ton of talent in the NFL, including both teams starting quarterbacks, and this will both of their first conference games of the season. Michigan has recruited better and should have the better roster, however, Lincoln Riley and his Trojans have been known for some high-powered offenses.

How The Wolverines Win vs Trojans

Michigan should match-up well against the Trojans at Michigan Stadium. The Wolverines should be a more physical team, a bit deeper depthwise, and should they keep the playmakers of USC at bay, they should have enough points from their offense against an unproven defense to come out victorious.

  • 📈 Strength: The offensive line and running backs should feast against USC. The Michigan offensive line has been one of the best in college football for the past decade and their runningback group, led by Donovan Edwards, will wear and tear a weak defensive group from USC pretty quickly, which could also open up the passing game if they are successful on the ground. Michigan is just stronger and more physical than USC right now.
  • 📉 Weakness: There have been a lot of changes, and also a bit of controversy around Michigan right now based on some pending NCAA penalties. Should Michigan be out certain players and coaches based on those sanctions, it could effect the outcome of the game. However, beyond that, USC can score points - and a lot of them. If USC's offense gets going, could that be enough to beat a Michigan team that will only be in their third game of a major replacement rebuild from the season before?

How The Trojans Win vs Wolverines

Head coach Lincoln Riley is an offensive guru and his teams have showed that throughout his time with USC. Defense, however, has been their biggest issue and made sweeping offseason changes. Can the Trojans finally put together a complete team on both sides of the ball, or will the same issues continue to exist in Los Angeles?

  • 📈 Strength: Lincoln Riley will put out a team with offensive firepower, and this year quarterback Miller Moss will likely be the leader. Is he former first-overall pick Caleb Williams? No, probably not, but he should be good enough to keep USC amongst the top-25 offenses in college football. Moreover, wide receiver Zachariah Branch is still one of the best playmakers in college football and can beat you on offense or special teams.
  • 📉 Weakness: Defense. USC has had a porous defense since Lincoln Riley took over and until we see a change, we cannot believe it will be fixed.

History of Michigan Vs USC

With the addition of USC to the Big Ten conference in 2024, expect to see some incredible future match-ups between two of college football's most decorated football teams. In terms of history, USC ranks third in National Championships to Michigan's second; USC ranks eighth in all-time win/loss percentage to Michigan's second; and USC ranks fifth in all-time conference championships to Michigan's third - they truly are two of the blue-bloods of the sport. Despite all of their accolades they have only played 10 times in the last 76 years.

Currently on a three-game series win streak, the Trojans have beaten the Wolverines six times out of 10 match-ups, and have won six of the last seven games. The series started with a 49-0 Michigan victory in the 1948 Rose Bowl when the Wolverines outgained the Trojans 491-133 and secured a National Championship. The two met a decade later where Michigan defeated USC in back-to-back years in their only "home and home" series match-ups - every game since has been in the Rose Bowl, including in 1970 when USC won a national championship with their victory and where their most recent match-up in 2007 was a 14-point USC victory.

Below is the outcome of every matchup between the Wolverines and Trojans since 1948:

DateMichigan ScoreUSC Score
1/1/20071832
1/1/20041428
1/1/19901017
1/2/19892214
1/1/19791017
1/1/1977614
1/1/1970310
9/27/19582019
9/28/1957166
1/1/1948490

 

Records of Both Programs

Both the Wolverines and Trojans have dominated college football for years, below you will find the records for each team throughout the years.

StatMichiganUSC
National Championship Wins1211
Bowl Wins2335
Conference Titles4537
Heisman Winners38
Winningest Coach By Win PercentageWilliam WardJohn Robinson
All Time Players Drafted412529

Last Time The Michigan Wolverines Played The USC Trojans

The last time these two storied programs met was for the Rose Bowl on new years day in 2007. The Wolverines fell short losing 32-18, losing in the rose bowl to USC for the second time in recent years.

Stats from the game:

  • Chad Henne: 26-41, 309 YDS. 2 TD, 1 INT.
  • J. Booty: 27-45 YDS. 391 YDS. 4TDS.
  • M. Hart: 17 Carries for 47 YDS.
  • C.J. Gable: 13 Carries for 25 YDS.

All-Time Best Wolverines Vs USC Trojans Games

The USC Trojans and Michigan Wolverines have had several notable matchups in college football, particularly in the Rose Bowl, which has been the stage for many of their memorable games. Here are some highlights from their historical encounters.

Game 1: January 1, 1948

In the first game between these two schools, Michigan trounced the Trojans 49-0 and concluded a perfect season and a national championship. Michigan tied their own record for the most points scored by a team in the Rose Bowl (1901) and was in control for the entirety of the game behind halfback Bob Chappuis, who was named (retroactively) Player of the Game. This game also featured the first-ever telecast of the game in the Los Angeles area.

Game 2: January 1, 1970

Despite being 4.5 underdogs, the Trojans were able to secure a win and claim the 1969 National Championship after a 10-3 defensive battle victory. The 8-2 Wolverines were being coached in the game by defensive coordinator Jim Young who was acting as head coach after head coach Bo Schembechler suffered a minor heart attack, but they just didn't have enough firepower on offense to secure the victory. The only touchdown in the game was a 33-yard pass in the third quarter to Bob Chandler, who claimed the game's MVP award.

Game 3: January 1, 1979

In a 17-10 victory, USC barely edged out Michigan 17-10 behind Heisman Trophy-winning running back Charles White. The game, which registered on the Richter Scale just before half-time, was a bit of a back-and-forth in the first half, including a called touchdown, even though on-lookers suspected the ball was down before crossing the goal line by Charles White. The Trojans won the game despite having just 157 yards of total offense.

 

How To Watch The Michigan Vs USC Game

To watch the Michigan game without cable, consider using live TV streaming services, many of which offer free trials. You can catch the USC vs. Michigan game on CBS or streaming on Paramount +, with kickoff at 3:30 p.m. ET and 12:30 p.m. PT

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Other Notable Wolverines Matchups:


Michigan vs USC Odds FAQs

Author

Brandon Justice

Brandon Justice is a Writer, Commercial Editor, and Fact Checker for BetMichigan.com. He also writes about the Michigan Wolverines & Detroit Lions, two teams he spent seven years covering professionally. Additionally, the Metro Detroit, Michigan native has covered numerous sports betting perspectives, including everything from analysis & daily picks to reviews & guides.

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