Arizona at USC Week 9 College Football Matchup Arizona at USC Matchup - Week 9
Sat, Oct 30 2021 · Week 9 · 🏟 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA · Turf · 93,607 cap
Arizona✈ 442 miSame TZ
Away
34 41
Final
USC
Home
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Arizona
21
ARIZ +22
USC
36
P&R Line USC -14.5
P&R Total O/U 57
Confidence 86 High
Vegas USC -22 · O/U 55.5
Matchup Prediction
USC has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor USC entering this game.
Momentum Control
71.6%
USC wins
Solid
Game Control
76%
USC wins
Strong
Vegas Spread
USC -22
O/U 55.5
teamrankings
Advanced Stats
PPA + Success Rate agree → USC · 73.9% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
Arizona 2021 Schedule
Arizona's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4Arizona vs BYU+13.5L16–2454.0L16–24UY
Sat 9/11Arizona vs San Diego State-1.5L14–3846.0L14–38ON
Sat 9/18Arizona vs Northern Arizona-26.5L19–2153.5L19–21UN
Sat 9/25Arizona at Oregon+29.5L19–4158.5L19–41OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/9Arizona vs UCLA+16.0L16–3460.0L16–34UN
Sat 10/16Arizona at Colorado+6.0L0–3446.5L0–34UN
Fri 10/22Arizona vs Washington+17.5L16–2145.5L16–21UY
Sat 10/30Arizona at USC+22.0L34–4155.5L34–41OY
Sat 11/6Arizona vs California+7.0W10–347.0W10–3UY
Sat 11/13Arizona vs Utah+24.0L29–3854.5L29–38OY
Fri 11/19Arizona at Washington State+15.0L18–4452.5L18–44ON
Sat 11/27Arizona at Arizona State+20.0L15–3852.5L15–38ON
USC 2021 Schedule
USC's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4USC vs San José State-13.5W30–761.0W30–7UY
Sat 9/11USC vs Stanford-17.0L28–4253.0L28–42ON
Sat 9/18USC at Washington State-7.0W45–1461.0W45–14UY
Sat 9/25USC vs Oregon State-11.0L27–4562.5L27–45ON
Sat 10/2USC at Colorado-9.0W37–1450.5W37–14OY
Sat 10/9USC vs Utah-3.0L26–4252.5L26–42ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/23USC at Notre Dame+8.0L16–3159.5L16–31UN
Sat 10/30USC vs Arizona-22.0W41–3455.5W41–34ON
Sat 11/6USC at Arizona State+10.0L16–3161.0L16–31UN
Sat 11/13USC at California-2.052.5
Sat 11/20USC vs UCLA+4.5L33–6266.5L33–62ON
Sat 11/27USC vs BYU+8.5L31–3565.5L31–35OY
Sat 12/4USC at California+4.5L14–2457.5L14–24UN
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2021 season
USC PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ USC
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Arizona
+0.357
USC
+0.432
USC Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Arizona
+0.544
USC
+0.603
USC Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Arizona
0.168
USC
0.140
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Arizona Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Arizona
+7.067
USC
+8.372
USC Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Arizona
+0.867
USC
+0.884
USC Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Arizona
74.7
USC
73.2
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
USC Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2021 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
USC Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Arizona
9.6
USC
17.0
Offense Rating
Arizona
21.5
USC
26.2
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Arizona
11.9
USC
9.2
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? USC Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Arizona #121
0.17
USC #14
2.00
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Arizona #40
1.17
USC #83
1.14
USC +1.83
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 71.6% of games historically
Based on 7 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? USC Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Arizona #1
19.1
USC #1
45.7
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Arizona #127
74.0
USC #89
42.9
USC +26.7
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 76% of games historically
Based on 7 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
Tie
1 — 1 sequences
✗ Predicted incorrectly
GC Battle
USC
97.2 — 1.6 GC score
✓ Predicted correctly
Game Result
USC won by 7
✓ Model called it
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on USC with a large edge. Historically, dominant teams like this are fully priced into the spread — the agreed-upon team covers just 50.2% of the time. The metrics predict game control better than they beat the number.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Arizona
Jedd Fisch #1
0–3 (0%) · Yr 1 at school
OC Brennan Carroll Yr 1 #1
DC Don Brown Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
USC
Donte Williams #1
1–0 (100%) · Yr 1 at school
OC Graham Harrell Yr 1 #1
DC Todd Orlando Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself