As the Texas A&M Aggies and USC Trojans take on each other in the Las Vegas Bowl on December 27th, the heated recruiting competition will be in the spotlight. These teams, both decimated by the portal, will be looking for momentum as they close out five games Friday night.
Check out our Texas A&M vs. USC predictions to see which team will come out on top.
Texas A&M vs. USC Las Vegas Bowl Betting Preview
All Texas A&M vs. USC odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are accurate as of Friday, December 27, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
CFN FPM Spread
Texas A&M -9 Spread
Texas A&M -3.5 Moneyline
Texas A&M -166, USC +140 over/under
55 points game time
Friday, December 27th, 10:30pm ET Location
Allegiant Stadium | How to watch Las Vegas, Nevada
ESPN
Texas A&M will be without several players due to opt-outs or the transfer portal before the 2025 NFL Draft, but the Trojans will be an empty shell with up to 10 key contributors missing games. It will be.
MORE: Who chose not to participate in the bowl game? Track them all with our college football bowl game opt-out tracker!
Although the lines in this game are moving slightly. After starting with almost a pick, the line moved to Texas A&M -3.5, but could continue moving in that direction if the Trojans have more opt-outs. The total rose slightly from 50.5 to 51.5.
Texas A&M odds of winning
CFN’s FPM is much more bullish on the Aggies, pegging Texas A&M as a 9-point favorite to win. Their 74.9% winning percentage is the third-highest winning percentage in a bowl season.
USC’s probability of winning
Based on the Aggies’ winning odds, the Trojans are clearly big underdogs. USC has played in every game this season and has only lost one game by seven points or more, against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, where the Trojans had multiple 99-yard pick-sixes in the fourth quarter. The season ended with a loss by 14 points. .
Texas A&M vs. USC Prediction
USC has a winning problem, and judging by the large number of departures in the transfer portal, they may also have a culture problem.
Head coach Lincoln Riley made the bold decision to bench starting quarterback Miller Moss for the first time in nine games, citing turnover issues. The changes didn’t help much, with reserve Jayden Maiava fumbled twice and threw three pick-sixes in the final three games of the season.
Riley’s regular season numbers are impressive, but his 2-7 postseason record is becoming increasingly difficult to overlook. To make matters worse, the Trojans will be without their top two running backs and top three receivers heading into the Las Vegas Bowl.
The outlook is not so bright for opponents. Texas A&M, which started 7-1 under coach Mike Elko, rose to No. 10 in the College Football Playoff rankings, only to lose three of its final four games in vastly different fashion.
The Aggies faced South Carolina, and the Shamcocks rode the momentum to a 24-point victory. Two weeks later, they couldn’t stop Auburn. This team struggled offensively in almost every game. And even with a chance at the SEC Championship and CFP still alive, the Aggies couldn’t muster any offensive rhythm against Texas.
What started as a promising season ended with a disappointing trip to the Las Vegas Bowl.
Follow Us: Track all Transfer Portal participants with the CFN Transfer Portal Tracker now!
Off the field, these programs are in direct opposition in recruiting efforts. USC flipped top-10 quarterback Huthan Longstreet from Texas A&M, and the Aggies countered a few days later, flipping Trojans receiver Jerome Miles.
Now they will take to the field in a game that appears to be crucial to the future of both programs.
Both teams will be looking to build momentum heading into the offseason, but only one will emerge with a win. USC rarely suffers blowout losses, but there are big questions about their ability to close out close games. This could be the match that really decides things.
Consider Texas A&M and points. USC’s offense will struggle without top skill players, and while the Aggies are missing a key pass rusher, the Trojans lack a running game or strong weapons to take advantage of.
Marcell Reed’s mobility could be an X-factor for a Texas A&M offense that has been very inconsistent this season. Look for the Aggies to start fast and give the Trojans a run for their money.
Prediction: Texas A&M 30, USC 17
College Football Network provides the latest information on the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, Group of Five conferences and FBS independent programs.
