Nevada at USC Week 1 College Football Matchup Nevada at USC Matchup - Week 1
Sat, Sep 2 2023 · Week 1 · 🏟 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA · Turf · 93,607 cap
Nevada✈ 391 miSame TZ
Away
14 66
Final
USC
Home
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Nevada
17
NEV +37.5
USC
46
P&R Line USC -29
P&R Total O/U 63.5
Confidence 86 High
Vegas USC -37.5 · O/U 63.5
Matchup Prediction
Toss-up — no clear edge
Neither metric shows a meaningful pre-game edge in this matchup.
Momentum Control
58.4%
Lean
Game Control
50.6%
Toss-up
Vegas Spread
USC -37.5
O/U 63.5
Caesars Sportsbook (Colorado)
Advanced Stats
PPA + Success Rate agree → USC · 73.9% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
Nevada 2023 Schedule
Nevada's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/2Nevada at USC+37.5L14–6663.5L14–66ON
Sat 9/9Nevada vs Idaho+5.5L6–3351.0L6–33UN
Sat 9/16Nevada vs Kansas+28.5L24–3158.0L24–31UY
Sat 9/23Nevada at Texas State+17.0L24–3560.0L24–35UY
Sat 9/30Nevada at Fresno State+25.5L9–2750.5L9–27UY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/14Nevada vs UNLV+7.5L27–4551.5L27–45ON
Sat 10/21Nevada at San Diego State+11.0W6–048.5W6–0UY
Sat 10/28Nevada vs New Mexico+1.0W34–2450.0W34–24OY
Sat 11/4Nevada vs Hawai'i-3.5L14–2750.5L14–27UN
Sat 11/11Nevada at Utah State+14.5L24–4154.5L24–41ON
Sat 11/18Nevada at Colorado State+12.5L20–3045.5L20–30OY
Sat 11/25Nevada vs Wyoming+11.0L6–4242.0L6–42ON
USC 2023 Schedule
USC's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/26USC vs San José State-31.5W56–2866.0W56–28ON
Sat 9/2USC vs Nevada-37.5W66–1463.5W66–14OY
Sat 9/9USC vs Stanford-28.5W56–1070.5W56–10UY
— Bye Week —
Sat 9/23USC at Arizona State-34.5W42–2862.0W42–28ON
Sat 9/30USC at Colorado-22.0W48–4174.5W48–41ON
Sat 10/7USC vs Arizona-21.0W43–4169.5W43–41ON
Sat 10/14USC at Notre Dame+3.0L20–4861.0L20–48ON
Sat 10/21USC vs Utah-7.5L32–3451.5L32–34ON
Sat 10/28USC at California-10.5W50–4967.5W50–49ON
Sat 11/4USC vs Washington+3.0L42–5276.0L42–52ON
Sat 11/11USC at Oregon+12.5L27–3678.5L27–36UY
Sat 11/18USC vs UCLA-6.0L20–3865.5L20–38UN
Wed 12/27USC vs Louisville+4.5W42–2858.0W42–28OY
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2023 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
Nevada #128
+0.329
USC #6
+0.630
USC Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Nevada #132
+0.340
USC #14
+0.794
USC Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Nevada #112
0.144
USC #116
0.140
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Nevada Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Nevada #132
+6.090
USC #4
+8.818
USC Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Nevada #129
+0.812
USC #15
+0.939
USC Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Nevada #120
73.2
USC #44
69.7
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
USC Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2023 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
Nevada
-21.6
USC
17.0
Offense Rating
Nevada
4.5
USC
26.2
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Nevada
26.1
USC
9.2
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Nevada Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Nevada #129
0.00
USC #54
0.00
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Nevada #108
0.00
USC #58
1.00
Nevada +0.00
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.4% of games historically
Based on 1 game this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Nevada Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Nevada #1
0.0
USC #1
94.9
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Nevada #135
0.0
USC #58
0.9
Nevada +0.0
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 50.6% of games historically
Based on 1 game this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
USC
5 — 0 sequences
✗ Predicted incorrectly
GC Battle
USC
88.0 — 4.4 GC score
✗ Predicted incorrectly
Game Result
USC won by 52
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on USC, but the GC edge is small. When metrics agree but GC is near-neutral, the agreed-upon team has covered only 46.7% of the time historically (n=224) — potentially a fade signal.

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

Coaching Matchup
Nevada
Ken Wilson #1
2–13 (13%) · Yr 2 at school
OC Derek Sage Yr 2 #1
DC Kwame Agyeman Yr 2 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
USC
Lincoln Riley #1
14–3 (82%) · Yr 2 at school
OC Josh Henson Yr 2 #1
DC Alex Grinch Yr 2 #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