Key Highlights
- NCAA men’s basketball matchup between Northwestern Wildcats and USC Trojans scheduled for Wednesday at Galen Center in Los Angeles.
- Northwestern is 8-10 overall, 0-7 in Big Ten, while USC boasts a record of 14-4, 3-4 in conference play.
- BetMGM Sportsbook lists odds for the game: Wildcats +225 moneyline, Trojans -285; spread favors Trojans by -6.5 points; over/under set at 149.5 points.
- Northwestern has lost five consecutive games and is 1-5 against the spread in their last six outings.
- USC comes off a close loss to then-No. 5 Purdue, but covered as underdogs with the Under (155.5) cashing.
NCAA Basketball: Northwestern Wildcats vs USC Trojans
The battle of two conference rivals in college basketball takes center stage this Wednesday when the Northwestern Wildcats visit the USC Trojans at Galen Center in Los Angeles, California. The game is set for 11 p.m. ET and will be televised on Big Ten Network.
Northwestern Wildcats: Struggling to Find Their Pace
The Wildcats have had a tough season so far, accumulating an overall record of 8-10 and finding themselves at the bottom of the Big Ten with a dismal 0-7 conference mark. In their last outing, they managed to secure a narrow victory against Nebraska as underdogs but have since lost five consecutive games. Their recent struggles also extend to their performance against the spread (ATS), where they are 1-5 in the past six games and 4-11 overall over the past 15 outings.
USC Trojans: Building Momentum
The USC Trojans, on the other hand, have been showing signs of improvement. They currently boast a strong record of 14-4 overall and are 3-4 in Big Ten play. In their most recent game against then-No. 5 Purdue, they managed to cover as underdogs but narrowly lost by just five points. USC’s success in covering the spread (ATS) is evident, with them going 3-0 ATS in their last three games.
Expert Picks and Predictions
Despite BetMGM Sportsbook offering attractive odds for USC as -285 favorites, our experts find it difficult to recommend this outright bet. The Trojans have been performing well lately but are still favored by a significant spread, making the proposition less appealing.
For those considering the pointspread, laying 6.5 points with USC (-6.5) at -110 odds might be worth a look. Northwestern’s recent poor performance and struggles against the spread make them a tough bet; however, they could still pose a challenge on this particular night.
Considering the over/under (O/U) line of 149.5 points, our advice leans towards playing under this number, given that both teams have shown tendencies to keep their scoring in check.
The Under is 4-1 in USC’s past five games and 6-3 for Northwestern across their previous nine contests.
The game promises a tough test for the Wildcats against a Trojan team on the rise. Stay tuned as we continue to monitor both teams’ performances leading up to this important matchup.
