Utah at USC Week 8 College Football Matchup Utah at USC Matchup - Week 8
Sun, Oct 22 2023 · Week 8 · 🏟 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA · Turf · 93,607 cap
Utah✈ 584 mi-1 hr TZ
Away
34 32
Final
USC
Home
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Utah
26
UTAH +7.5
USC
31
P&R Line USC -5
P&R Total O/U 56.5
Confidence 75 Good
Vegas USC -7.5 · O/U 51.5
Matchup Prediction
USC has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor USC entering this game.
Momentum Control
58.4%
USC wins
Lean
Game Control
58.6%
USC wins
Lean
Vegas Spread
USC -7.5
O/U 51.5
William Hill (New Jersey)
Advanced Stats
Advanced factors are split · No strong agreement signal
↓ See full breakdown
Utah 2023 Schedule
Utah's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Thu 8/31Utah vs Florida-5.5W24–1144.5W24–11UY
Sat 9/9Utah at Baylor-7.0W20–1346.5W20–13UN
Sat 9/16Utah vs Weber State-26.5W31–744.0W31–7UN
Sat 9/23Utah vs UCLA-3.0W14–750.5W14–7UY
Fri 9/29Utah at Oregon State+4.0L7–2143.0L7–21UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/14Utah vs California-9.0W34–1442.5W34–14OY
Sat 10/21Utah at USC+7.5W34–3251.5W34–32OY
Sat 10/28Utah vs Oregon+6.5L6–3547.5L6–35UN
Sat 11/4Utah vs Arizona State-11.0W55–340.5W55–3OY
Sat 11/11Utah at Washington+9.5L28–3548.5L28–35OY
Sat 11/18Utah at Arizona+2.5L18–4245.5L18–42ON
Sat 11/25Utah vs Colorado-21.5W23–1743.5W23–17UN
Sat 12/23Utah vs Northwestern-6.5L7–1444.5L7–14UN
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
Split
Metrics disagree
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Utah #112
+0.397
USC #6
+0.534
USC Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Utah #117
+0.445
USC #14
+0.650
USC Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Utah #53
0.168
USC #116
0.140
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Utah Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Utah #107
+6.845
USC #4
+8.470
USC Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Utah #89
+0.862
USC #15
+0.839
Utah Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Utah #59
70.4
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
Utah
7.3
USC
17.0
Offense Rating
Utah
18.2
USC
26.2
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Utah
10.8
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
Utah #66
1.20
USC #54
1.43
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Utah #17
0.20
USC #58
0.71
USC +0.23
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.4% 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)
Utah #1
58.5
USC #1
68.5
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Utah #60
29.0
USC #58
22.5
USC +10.0
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.6% of games historically
Based on 7 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
USC
2 — 1 sequences
✓ Predicted correctly
GC Battle
Utah
17.6 — 46.4 GC score
✗ Predicted incorrectly
Game Result
Utah won by 2
✗ Model missed it
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on USC. Teams with this edge profile have covered 50.3% historically — essentially a coin flip against the spread.

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

Coaching Matchup
Utah
Kyle Whittingham #1
157–74 (68%) · Yr 19 at school
OC Andy Ludwig Yr 3 #1
DC Morgan Scalley Yr 3 #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