No. 2 Ohio State travels to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to face USC on Saturday, October 31, in a marquee Week 9 matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, with the Buckeyes listed as 6.5-point road favorites and the total at 51.5. USC looks to deliver a home upset, while Ohio State aims to leave Los Angeles with a victory. Our Ohio State vs. USC picks and predictions examine the college football betting odds and best bets for Saturday night.
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College Football Week 9 Bets & Picks: Ohio State vs. USC
College football betting expert Scott Bogman will provide his top picks and predictions for every week of college football action. Let’s get ready for this weekend’s games with Bogman’s best college football bets for Week 9.
Ohio State vs. USC
USC has been mediocre this season, going 2-6 ATS with only one ATS win since September 4! We should see a better version of the Trojans' offense after it bottomed out on the road at Wisconsin last week, but the competition is even tougher against the Buckeyes at home. The Trojans still have a top-10 passing offense (303.5 YPG), led by QB Jayden Maiava, who is tied for the sixth-most passing touchdowns with 19 this season. Before last week's Wisconsin game, USC's season low was 25 points. The Trojans rank fifth in the country in red-zone trips, and their team total in this game is 21.5.
Ohio State will have success against USC, but the Trojans might get some extra opportunities if the Buckeyes' new QB turns the ball over or provides favorable field position through three-and-outs. Losing QB Julian Sayin is a bad beat for Ohio State's offense, but the Buckeyes have strong backup options in Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair. Fahey was praised for his high football IQ, willingness to run, and lack of turnovers, throwing zero interceptions in his final year of high school. St. Clair is a blue-chip, five-star prospect who ranked fourth nationally in the class of 2025, with the size, speed, and arm strength that scouts crave.
The Buckeyes have had the bye week to prepare these QBs and still have the leading Heisman contender in WR Jeremiah Smith, along with a running game strong enough to put points on the board against the well-below-average Trojans defense. USC ranks 56th in defensive EPA per play and 57th in defensive success percentage in the Power 4, and 107th and 106th, respectively, across the FBS.
The Trojans have looked better over the last three weeks, allowing fewer than 25 points to Washington, Penn State, and Wisconsin. However, none of those offenses are impressive. USC also allowed 30 points to Louisiana, 35 to Rutgers, and 41 to Oregon, with Dylan Raiola, who has since been benched, playing most of that game.
There have been a lot of upsets in 2026, and they might be expected at this point. But if Ohio State figures out how to consistently get the ball to Jeremiah Smith with either QB, the Buckeyes should put up points and win going away.
Pick: Ohio State (-6.5)
