Northwestern at USC Week 11 College Football Matchup Northwestern at USC Matchup - Week 11
Fri, Nov 7 2025 · Week 11 · 🏟 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA · Turf · 93,607 cap
Northwestern✈ 1,744 mi-2 hr TZ
17 38
Final
USC
Home
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Northwestern
20
NW +14.5
USC
34
P&R Line USC -14
P&R Total O/U 53
Confidence 90 High
Vegas USC -14.5 · O/U 54.5
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 -14.5
O/U 54.5
DraftKings
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → USC · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
🛋 Northwestern Coming off BYE
Northwestern 2025 Schedule
Northwestern's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/30Northwestern at Tulane+6.5L3–2347.5L3–23UN
Fri 9/5Northwestern vs Western Illinois-30.5W42–748.5W42–7OY
Sat 9/13Northwestern vs Oregon+25.5L14–3450.5L14–34UY
— Bye Week —
Sat 9/27Northwestern vs UCLA-6.0W17–1445.5W17–14UN
Sat 10/4Northwestern vs UL Monroe-12.5W42–743.5W42–7OY
Sat 10/11Northwestern at Penn State+20.5W22–2146.5W22–21UY
Sat 10/18Northwestern vs Purdue-3.0W19–047.5W19–0UY
Sat 10/25Northwestern at Nebraska+7.5L21–2844.5L21–28OY
— Bye Week —
Fri 11/7Northwestern at USC+14.5L17–3854.5L17–38ON
Sat 11/15Northwestern vs Michigan+10.0L22–2441.5L22–24OY
Sat 11/22Northwestern vs Minnesota-4.0W38–3541.0W38–35ON
Sat 11/29Northwestern at Illinois+7.0L13–2044.5L13–20UY
Fri 12/26Northwestern vs Central Michigan-13.5W34–743.5W34–7UY
USC 2025 Schedule
USC's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/30USC vs Missouri State-34.5W73–1359.5W73–13OY
Sat 9/6USC vs Georgia Southern-29.0W59–2061.5W59–20OY
Sat 9/13USC at Purdue-20.5W33–1759.5W33–17UN
Sat 9/20USC vs Michigan State-18.5W45–3155.5W45–31ON
Sat 9/27USC at Illinois-6.5L32–3462.5L32–34ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/11USC vs Michigan-3.0W31–1358.5W31–13UY
Sat 10/18USC at Notre Dame+10.5L24–3460.5L24–34UY
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/1USC at Nebraska-4.5W21–1759.5W21–17UN
Fri 11/7USC vs Northwestern-14.5W38–1754.5W38–17OY
Sat 11/15USC vs Iowa-6.5W26–2148.5W26–21UN
Sat 11/22USC at Oregon+10.5L27–4259.5L27–42ON
Sat 11/29USC vs UCLA-21.0W29–1059.0W29–10UN
Tue 12/30USC vs TCU-4.5L27–3056.5L27–30ON
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2025 season
USC PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ USC
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ USC
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ USC
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Northwestern #83
+0.307
USC #7
+0.500
USC Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Northwestern #85
+0.399
USC #4
+0.758
USC Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Northwestern #83
0.150
USC #63
0.159
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
USC Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Northwestern #116
+6.742
USC #10
+8.030
USC Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Northwestern #57
+0.886
USC #11
+0.941
USC Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Northwestern #82
71.5
USC #120
72.8
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Northwestern Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2025 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
Northwestern
-0.6
USC
17.0
Offense Rating
Northwestern
16.0
USC
26.2
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Northwestern
16.6
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
Northwestern #26
1.86
USC #11
2.25
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Northwestern #44
0.86
USC #7
0.13
USC +0.39
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.4% of games historically
Based on 8 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? USC Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Northwestern #1
49.1
USC #1
57.8
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Northwestern #77
38.5
USC #41
28.9
USC +8.8
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.6% of games historically
Based on 8 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
USC
1 — 0 sequences
✓ Predicted correctly
GC Battle
USC
77.9 — 8.6 GC score
✓ Predicted correctly
Game Result
USC won by 21
✓ Model called 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
Northwestern
David Braun #1
12–13 (48%) · Yr 3 at school
OC Zach Lujan Yr 2 #1
DC Tim McGarigle Yr 2 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
USC
Lincoln Riley #1
25–14 (64%) · Yr 4 at school
OC Luke Huard Yr 1 #1
DC D'Anton Lynn 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