USC at Colorado Week 5 College Football Matchup USC at Colorado Matchup - Week 5
Sat, Sep 30 2023 · Week 5 · 🏟 Folsom Field Boulder, CO · Turf · 50,183 cap
USC✈ 828 mi+1 hr TZ
Away
48 41
Final
Home
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
USC
41
Colorado
31
P&R Line USC -10
P&R Total O/U 72
Confidence 86 High
Vegas USC -22 · O/U 74.5
Matchup Prediction
USC has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor USC entering this game.
Momentum Control
61.3%
USC wins
Lean
Game Control
75.9%
USC wins
Solid
Vegas Spread
USC -22
O/U 74.5
William Hill (New Jersey)
Advanced Stats
PPA + Success Rate agree → USC · 73.9% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
🚌 USC 2nd straight Road Game
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
Colorado 2023 Schedule
Colorado's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/2Colorado at TCU+20.5W45–4259.5W45–42OY
Sat 9/9Colorado vs Nebraska-2.5W36–1456.5W36–14UY
Sat 9/16Colorado vs Colorado State-23.0W43–3563.0W43–35ON
Sat 9/23Colorado at Oregon+21.0L6–4270.0L6–42UN
Sat 9/30Colorado vs USC+22.0L41–4874.5L41–48OY
Sat 10/7Colorado at Arizona State-3.0W27–2458.0W27–24UN
Fri 10/13Colorado vs Stanford-13.0L43–4659.0L43–46ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/28Colorado at UCLA+14.0L16–2860.0L16–28UY
Sat 11/4Colorado vs Oregon State+13.0L19–2660.5L19–26UY
Sat 11/11Colorado vs Arizona+6.0L31–3455.5L31–34OY
Fri 11/17Colorado at Washington State+4.5L14–5659.5L14–56ON
Sat 11/25Colorado at Utah+21.5L17–2343.5L17–23UY
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
USC #6
+0.696
Colorado #58
+0.498
USC Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
USC #14
+0.861
Colorado #53
+0.642
USC Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
USC #116
0.140
Colorado #82
0.156
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Colorado Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
USC #4
+9.278
Colorado #33
+7.795
USC Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
USC #15
+0.948
Colorado #77
+0.872
USC Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
USC #44
69.7
Colorado #94
71.3
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
USC
17.0
Colorado
0.1
Offense Rating
USC
26.2
Colorado
15.7
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
USC
9.1
Colorado
15.6
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
USC #54
1.75
Colorado #79
1.50
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
USC #58
0.25
Colorado #64
0.75
USC +0.25
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 61.3% of games historically
Based on 4 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? USC Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
USC #1
89.2
Colorado #1
28.1
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
USC #58
4.4
Colorado #120
54.3
USC +61.1
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 75.9% of games historically
Based on 4 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
USC
1 — 2 sequences
✓ Predicted correctly
GC Battle
USC
4.5 — 92.8 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
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
Colorado
Deion Sanders #1
3–0 (100%) · Yr 1 at school
OC Sean Lewis Yr 1 #1
DC Charles Kelly 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: CSS is not a predictive 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: GS is not a predictive 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