USC at LSU Week 1 College Football Matchup USC at LSU Matchup - Week 1
Sun, Sep 1 2024 · Week 1 · Neutral Site · 🏟 Allegiant Stadium Las Vegas, NV · Turf · 65,000 cap
USC✈ 2,706 miSame TZ LSU✈ 1,577 mi-2 hr TZ
Away (Neutral)
27 20
Final
LSU
Home (Neutral)
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
USC
27
LSU -4
LSU
33
P&R Line LSU -6
P&R Total O/U 60.5
Confidence 86 High
Vegas LSU -4 · O/U 66.5
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
LSU -4
O/U 66.5
DraftKings
Advanced Stats
PPA + Success Rate agree → USC · 73.9% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
USC 2024 Schedule
USC's 2024 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sun 9/1USC vs LSU+4.0W27–2066.5W27–20UY
Sat 9/7USC vs Utah State-30.5W48–062.5W48–0UY
— Bye Week —
Sat 9/21USC at Michigan-4.0L24–2744.0L24–27ON
Sat 9/28USC vs Wisconsin-14.0W38–2150.5W38–21OY
Sat 10/5USC at Minnesota-8.5L17–2445.5L17–24UN
Sat 10/12USC vs Penn State+3.5L30–3351.5L30–33OY
Sat 10/19USC at Maryland-6.5L28–2956.5L28–29ON
Fri 10/25USC vs Rutgers-14.0W42–2057.0W42–20OY
Sat 11/2USC at Washington-2.0L21–2655.0L21–26UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/16USC vs Nebraska-6.5W28–2051.0W28–20UY
Sat 11/23USC at UCLA-5.0W19–1353.0W19–13UY
Sat 11/30USC vs Notre Dame+6.5L35–4952.5L35–49ON
Fri 12/27USC vs Texas A&M+3.5W35–3156.5W35–31OY
LSU 2024 Schedule
LSU's 2024 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sun 9/1LSU vs USC-4.0L20–2766.5L20–27UN
Sat 9/7LSU vs Nicholls-50.5W44–2162.0W44–21ON
Sat 9/14LSU at South Carolina-7.0W36–3350.0W36–33ON
Sat 9/21LSU vs UCLA-21.5W34–1756.5W34–17UN
Sat 9/28LSU vs South Alabama-21.0W42–1064.5W42–10UY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/12LSU vs Ole Miss+3.5W29–2664.5W29–26UY
Sat 10/19LSU at Arkansas-3.0W34–1057.0W34–10UY
Sat 10/26LSU at Texas A&M+2.0L23–3854.5L23–38ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/9LSU vs Alabama+2.5L13–4257.5L13–42UN
Sat 11/16LSU at Florida-3.0L16–2757.0L16–27UN
Sat 11/23LSU vs Vanderbilt-10.0W24–1753.0W24–17UN
Sat 11/30LSU vs Oklahoma-4.5W37–1747.5W37–17OY
Tue 12/31LSU vs Baylor+3.0W44–3162.5W44–31OY
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2024 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 #41
+0.446
LSU #30
+0.431
USC Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
USC #74
+0.495
LSU #37
+0.531
LSU Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
USC #105
0.140
LSU #30
0.184
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
LSU Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
USC #85
+7.205
LSU #60
+7.626
LSU Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
USC #11
+0.895
LSU #38
+0.888
USC Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
USC #6
66.3
LSU #94
72.1
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
USC Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2024 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
LSU
16.9
Offense Rating
USC
26.2
LSU
24.9
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
USC
9.2
LSU
8.0
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 #24
0.00
LSU #13
0.00
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
USC #10
0.00
LSU #24
0.00
USC +0.00
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.4% of games historically
Based on 0 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
0.0
LSU #1
0.0
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
USC #33
0.0
LSU #30
0.0
USC +0.0
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 50.6% of games historically
Based on 0 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on LSU, 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
USC
Lincoln Riley #1
19–8 (70%) · Yr 3 at school
OC Josh Henson Yr 3 #1
DC D'Anton Lynn Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
LSU
Brian Kelly #1
20–7 (74%) · Yr 3 at school
OC Joe Sloan Yr 1 #1
DC Blake Baker 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