UCLA at USC Week 12 College Football Matchup UCLA at USC Matchup - Week 12
Sat, Nov 18 2023 · Week 12 · 🏟 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA · Turf · 93,607 cap
Away
38 20
Final
USC
Home
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
UCLA
29
USC
34
P&R Line USC -4.5
P&R Total O/U 63
Confidence 86 High
Vegas USC -6 · O/U 65.5
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
50.6%
USC wins
Toss-up
Vegas Spread
USC -6
O/U 65.5
DraftKings
Advanced Stats
PPA + Success Rate agree → UCLA · 73.9% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
UCLA 2023 Schedule
UCLA's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/2UCLA vs Coastal Carolina-15.5W27–1366.5W27–13UN
Sat 9/9UCLA at San Diego State-13.0W35–1049.0W35–10UY
Sat 9/16UCLA vs North Carolina Central-35.0W59–760.5W59–7OY
Sat 9/23UCLA at Utah+3.0L7–1450.5L7–14UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/7UCLA vs Washington State-3.0W25–1760.0W25–17UY
Sat 10/14UCLA at Oregon State+3.5L24–3653.5L24–36ON
Sat 10/21UCLA at Stanford-17.0W42–752.0W42–7UY
Sat 10/28UCLA vs Colorado-14.0W28–1660.0W28–16UN
Sat 11/4UCLA at Arizona-2.5L10–2750.0L10–27UN
Sat 11/11UCLA vs Arizona State-14.0L7–1745.5L7–17UN
Sat 11/18UCLA at USC+6.0W38–2065.5W38–20UY
Sat 11/25UCLA vs California-9.5L7–3350.5L7–33UN
Sat 12/16UCLA vs Boise State-6.5W35–2246.0W35–22OY
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
UCLA 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
→ UCLA
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
UCLA #73
+0.474
USC #6
+0.472
UCLA Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
UCLA #107
+0.480
USC #14
+0.677
USC Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
UCLA #8
0.208
USC #116
0.140
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
UCLA Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
UCLA #120
+6.663
USC #4
+8.149
USC Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
UCLA #71
+0.877
USC #15
+0.841
UCLA Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
UCLA #52
70.1
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
UCLA
6.6
USC
17.0
Offense Rating
UCLA
19.6
USC
26.2
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
UCLA
12.9
USC
9.1
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
UCLA #43
0.89
USC #54
1.18
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
UCLA #19
0.33
USC #58
1.00
USC +0.29
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.4% of games historically
Based on 11 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? USC Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
UCLA #1
47.9
USC #1
50.8
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
UCLA #68
38.7
USC #58
34.5
USC +2.9
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 50.6% of games historically
Based on 11 games this season
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
UCLA
Chip Kelly #1
30–29 (51%) · Yr 6 at school
OC Chip Kelly Yr 2 #1
DC D'Anton Lynn Yr 1 #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: 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