NCAA Football Odds: Minnesota Golden Gophers at No 25 USC Trojans
Saturday, September 03, 2011
by Bodog Sportsbook
The University of Southern California opens its second and final season on probation, meaning that no matter how good USC Trojans is in Lane Kiffin’s second season that the Trojans can’t play in any postseason games. So you know they would like to run the table to make a statement, beginning with Saturday’s game in L.A. against Big Ten foe Minnesota. USC opened as a 23-point favorite on BBodog Sportsbook’s NCAA football odds.
The No. 25 USC Trojans come off an 8-5 season and have one of the nation’s top QBs in Matt Barkley and rising young receivers in Robert Woods. Projected starting running back Marc Tyler is suspended for this game for comments he made to TMZ. Really the main problem for USC last year was defense, which had trouble learning Monte Kiffin's NFL-oriented schemes. The Trojans averaged 31 points, but gave up 27. The 400 yards per game opponents piled up were the most since records have been kept starting in 1955. Seven defensive starters are back.
This will be the debut for new Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach Jerry Kill, formerly of Northern Illinois. Tim Brewster was fired by the Gophers during last season’s 3-9 mark. Kill built NIU into probably the best program in the MAC. Minnesota has a new quarterback in MarQueis Gray. Last season, the 6-foot-4 Gray played receiver. He did have 110 yards and a touchdown in 23 carries out of the wildcat formation. And he has completed eight of 23 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown, with one interception.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers and USC Trojans met in Minneapolis last year, a 32-21 USC win. Gray caught four passes, including a touchdown, in that one. Barkley threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns but also two picks. Woods returned a kickoff 97 yards for a score to give USC a 19-14 lead. It was USC’s 11th straight win over a Big Ten opponent. USC has won 13 straight openers.
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jerry kill - lane kiffin - marc tyler - marqueis gray - matt barkley - minnesota golden gophers - monte kiffin - robert woods - tim brewster - usc trojans
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