USC -17 at ASU - is that correct??

asked some guys in my office for their opinion on what the point spread should be. we said from 7.5 to 10.

i checked on bloomberg (obviously not too definitive cause you can't act on it).... but it said USC -17. it's at ASU and they looked really, really impressive last week.

any thoughts??

[YoureToast]

Yeah, my thoughts are that the impressiveness of ASU's performance is almost irrelevant. The general thought right now is that we might be watching one of the best, if not the best, college football teams of all time. Thus, the 17 pt spread.

[Gramps]

[ QUOTE ]
asked some guys in my office for their opinion on what the point spread should be. we said from 7.5 to 10.

i checked on bloomberg (obviously not too definitive cause you can't act on it).... but it said USC -17. it's at ASU and they looked really, really impressive last week.

any thoughts??

[/ QUOTE ]

If you watched the USC-Oregon game on Saturday, you'd understand why it's at 17. Oregon's not that great, but they were fired up, their crowd was fired up, they jumped on USC early...and then the Trojans calmly and methodically just ROLLED over Oregon the rest of the game. It was complete destruction. Leinart and crew just don't get fazed in a hostile environment. USC is playing much better than they were at this point last year.

Not saying go one way or the other, just that 17 points seems about right given USC's crushing performance in a situation where a lot of talented teams would have melted.

thanks guys for the responses!!

looked at sagarin ratings and "gold sheets" ratings and USC's power rating is miles and miles above any other team. "gold sheets" has them 12 points better than texas and 16 points better than Va Tech and then 3-4 teams 17-18 points better.

FWIW, gold sheets ratings would suggest USC as 18 point favorite (note this is not their pick, just me using their ratings).

[fnurt]

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, my thoughts are that the impressiveness of ASU's performance is almost irrelevant. The general thought right now is that we might be watching one of the best, if not the best, college football teams of all time. Thus, the 17 pt spread.

[/ QUOTE ]

But doesn't the general public pretty much feel like USC is a juggernaut who is going to roll over everybody? In other words, can there really be any value in betting USC the rest of the way?

[deadm0ney]

i dont think i could ever bet against USC after the way they have been playing..

[YoureToast]

The only way I can bet against USC is if someone smarter than me tells me to do so. And thats happened this week.

I like ASU +17. USC is banged up in the secondary and ASU is very explosive offensive team. I think this game with be a shootout with neither team able to stop the other. The team that can avoid a costly turnover will win the game.

[TomCollins]

How much you want to bet, I'll take USC -17.

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How much you want to bet, I'll take USC -17.

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I already have some money on it at pinnacle, sorry. And though I think ASU will cover I do not want to put anymore money on it then I already did.