USC at Maryland Week 8 College Football Matchup USC at Maryland Matchup - Week 8
Sat, Oct 19 2024 · Week 8 · 🏟 Maryland Stadium College Park, MD · Turf · 51,802 cap
USC✈ 2,301 mi+3 hr TZ
Away
28 29
Final
Home
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
USC
33
USC -6.5
Maryland
21
P&R Line USC -12.5
P&R Total O/U 54
Confidence 86 High
Vegas USC -6.5 · O/U 56.5
Matchup Prediction
Maryland has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Maryland entering this game.
Momentum Control
58.4%
Maryland wins
Lean
Game Control
58.6%
Maryland wins
Lean
Vegas Spread
USC -6.5
O/U 56.5
DraftKings
Advanced Stats
PPA + Success Rate agree → USC · 73.9% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
🏠 Maryland 2nd straight Home Game
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
Maryland 2024 Schedule
Maryland's 2024 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/31Maryland vs UConn-19.0W50–745.5W50–7OY
Sat 9/7Maryland vs Michigan State-7.5L24–2744.5L24–27ON
Sat 9/14Maryland at Virginia+2.5W27–1355.5W27–13UY
Sat 9/21Maryland vs Villanova-22.5W38–2046.5W38–20ON
Sat 9/28Maryland at Indiana+7.5L28–4250.0L28–42ON
— Bye Week —
Fri 10/11Maryland vs Northwestern-11.0L10–3745.0L10–37ON
Sat 10/19Maryland vs USC+6.5W29–2856.5W29–28OY
Sat 10/26Maryland at Minnesota+6.0L23–4845.0L23–48ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/9Maryland at Oregon+24.0L18–3958.0L18–39UY
Sat 11/16Maryland vs Rutgers-4.5L17–3154.5L17–31UN
Sat 11/23Maryland vs Iowa+4.0L13–2940.5L13–29ON
Sat 11/30Maryland at Penn State+26.5L7–4450.5L7–44ON
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
+0.428
Maryland #106
+0.310
USC Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
USC #74
+0.587
Maryland #97
+0.391
USC Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
USC #105
0.140
Maryland #103
0.142
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Maryland Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
USC #85
+8.106
Maryland #95
+7.259
USC Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
USC #11
+0.917
Maryland #92
+0.848
USC Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
USC #6
66.3
Maryland #98
72.2
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
Maryland
4.5
Offense Rating
USC
26.2
Maryland
17.5
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
USC
9.2
Maryland
13.0
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Maryland Edge
Avg sequences created per game
USC #24
1.50
Maryland #105
1.60
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
USC #10
0.33
Maryland #78
1.20
Maryland +0.10
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.4% of games historically
Based on 5 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Maryland Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
USC #1
42.7
Maryland #1
51.1
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
USC #33
30.5
Maryland #112
30.9
Maryland +8.3
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.6% of games historically
Based on 6 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Maryland. 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
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
Maryland
Mike Locksley #1
29–33 (47%) · Yr 6 at school
OC Josh Gattis Yr 2 #1
DC Aazaar Abdul-Rahim 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