College Football Odds: USC opens in Hawaii

Matt Barkley threw for over 2,700 yards and 15 TDs as a freshman in ’09.

Fourteenth-ranked Southern Cal has had an interesting offseason to say the least, but the program is still hoping to remain among college football’s elite.

Former head coach Pete Carroll bolted for the greener pastures of the NFL just ahead of NCAA sanctions.  The Trojans are unable to participate in bowl games the next couple of years, and will be dealing with reduced scholarships.

However, there is still plenty of talent in the cupboard that is now manned by former Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin.  The questions for Southern Cal this season will deal with motivation.  The Trojans have dominated the Pac-10 the past decade and were usually in the mix for the national championship.  With those perks now unattainable, how will this program respond to lower expectations and a new coaching staff?

Hawaii doesn’t have the same pedigree as USC, but the Warriors did play in three consecutive bowl games that included the 2008 Sugar Bowl.  Coach Greg McMackin’s team went 6-7 SU and 6-6 ATS during his second year with the program.

Caesars Palace installed USC as decided 21 ½-point road ‘chalk’ over Hawaii, with the total listed at 54.  ESPN will provide coverage of Thurday’s matchup beginning at 8 p.m. PT from Hawaii’s Aloha Stadium.  The line originally opened at 19 before the college football betting public started backing the Trojans.

Southern Cal will be led by sophomore signal caller Matt Barkley, who completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 2,735 yards with 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions as a true freshman.  Junior Marc Tyler has been tabbed the starting running back after missing all but one game last season due to an injured toe.  Senior tailback Allen Bradford ran for 668 yards and eight touchdowns last year in a backup role.

Hawaii quarterback Bryant Moniz threw for 2,396 yards last season with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.  His favorite target figures to be wideout Greg Salas, who led the team with 106 catches and 1,590 yards receiving in 2009.

USC and Hawaii haven’t met since 2005 when most of these players were in high school.  The Trojans throttled the Warriors in that matchup as a 36 ½-point road favorite, 63-17, while the combined 80 points soared ‘over’ the 62 ½-point closing total.

USC has won 12 consecutive season openers, and the program is 28-1 all-time against WAC opponents, and 6-0 versus the Warriors.  The Trojans were 4-2 SU and 1-5 ATS last season as a road ‘chalk.’  This program had appeared in four straight Rose Bowls before falling to the Emerald Bowl and a victory over Boston College last season.

USC fullback Stanley Havili (shoulder), offensive guard Butch Lewis (hip) and linebacker Simione Vehikite (neck) are ‘probable’ versus the Warriors.  Offensive lineman Khaled Holmes (neck), defensive lineman Nick Perry (knee) and safety Drew McAllister (hip) are ‘questionable for Thursday’s matchup, while wide receiver Kyle Prater (hamstring) is ‘doubtful’ and running back Dillon Baxter (suspension), offensive lineman Abe Markowitz (foot), defensive back TJ Bryant (facial) and defensive back Patrick Hall (suspension) are ‘out.’

Hawaii center Brett Leonard is expected to miss the first three games of the season due to a knee injury.

Thursday’s forecast for Honolulu calls for partly cloudy skies and a 10 percent chance of rain, with a high of 85 degrees and a low of 75.