Joel Klatt picks Oregon to win, cover against USC

No. 15 USC vs. No. 8 Oregon is the biggest game of the weekend, with the two teams meeting with massive playoff implications on the line on Saturday afternoon. Now, Joel Klatt has predicted the must-win game for both teams up in Eugene between the Trojans and Ducks.

Klatt previewed that game during his show on Thursday morning. This showdown has as much say as any game on the schedule as to what the rankings and field project to look like for the College Football Playoff after Week 13.

“Oregon, of course, sitting at seven. USC is sitting at 15,” Klatt said. “I think this is a de facto playoff game, candidly, because, if USC wins, they will almost certainly be the tenth team in the country next week when the playoff rankings come out. That ten spot is a vital spot because that’s really the cutoff to get in to the playoff. … That ten spot is basically going to be the last spot. If they beat Oregon, I think Oregon falls to eleven, and I think USC goes up to ten. Therefore, this is like a playoff game. This is a playoff game, and I cannot wait to see this play out.”

However, that said, Klatt just thinks this does not set up well for Southern Cal. He sees multiple advantages in the game for Oregon, with the Ducks hosting the game at home, having a pass defense that’s the best in the country as they’re holding their opponents to 127.2 per game, and a rushing offense that’s Top 10 in the nation in posting 233.6 yards per game.

“Full stop, 30,000-foot view? Bad matchup for USC. It just is,” Klatt said. “Last week, I told you it was a good matchup for Oklahoma going against Alabama, that it was a good matchup for Georgia going against Texas. And, right here, I’m telling you. This is a good matchup for Oregon going against USC. Specifically because Oregon can run the rock. That’s what USC has struggled with. We saw them struggle with it mightily against Notre Dame. We saw, even in wins, them give up a lot of rushing and yards rushing, like at Nebraska, Michigan even ran for a lot of yards. Like, this is not a great matchup because Oregon is the number two team in the country in yards per carry.

“They have, also, the No. 1 pass defense in the country. USC has struggled on the road. Now, they’ve got to go to Autzen, one of the toughest places to play in the country. Now you see why (that’s the spread). It is a bad matchup for USC.”

With that, Klatt went with Oregon to win and to cover, with BetMGM having a current spread for the at -9.5 (-115), against USC. He thinks the Trojans could do enough to keep it close, but that the Ducks eventually have more to get a double-digit and stay alive, going into the final weekend of the regular season, for the CFP.

“I expect USC is going to score some points, but just not enough. … I love what USC is doing. I just don’t love them in this game. And, on the road, I’m going to have to lean towards Oregon, and I think a ten-point victory is not out of the question. So, I’ve got Oregon, 31-21, and they cover the -9.5,” Klatt said. “I think Oregon wins this game by ten. And, really, this is a game that they have to have, so they’ll play well.”

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