It’s a quasi-playoff game for the College Football Playoff under the lights (eventually) in Los Angeles as Michigan football — which suffered its only loss on the road to no-No. 6 Oklahoma — visits USC — which suffered its only loss on the road to now-No. 17 Illinois.
A loss in this one doesn’t necessarily eliminate either the Wolverines or the Trojans … but with rivals Michigan State and Ohio State still looming for U-M and rivals Notre Dame and Oregon still looming for USC, banking a win against a solid foe probably wouldn’t hurt either’s CFP hopes.
Who’ll come out on top in a matchup traditionally more suited for a Rose Bowl than a mid-October NBC slot? Here’s what four Free Press sports writers think about the Wolverines’ chances in Southern California:
Tony Garcia
If this game was in Ann Arbor, I would expect the Wolverines to prevail, as they did a year ago. (Also, U-M won last season while passing for 32(!!!) yards – they should top that this year.) But the Trojans’ attack is much improved and, despite the always-large contingent of U-M alumni in LA, it’s still a long way from the Big House.
For the first time all year, U-M doesn’t win the turnover battle (both teams force one) as a fourth-quarter comeback drive is derailed by an interception inside USC territory. U-M’s CFP hopes are still alive, but on life support. The pick: USC 31, U-M 27.
Carlos Monarrez
I’m not throwing shade at Michigan State, but USC was only up seven points on the Spartans with eight minutes left last month. Michigan hasn’t been great when it travels west, but the Trojans aren’t great outside of their offense, which features Heisman hopeful QB Jayden Maiava.
Look for Michigan to pull away, especially with USC looking ahead to next week’s Notre Dame game. And don’t discount the Coliseum crowd – which will be heavily pro U-M because, as Sherrone Moore said this week: “It’s sold out, but it’s sold out because Michigan’s coming.” The pick: Michigan 36, USC 28.
Jeff Seidel
Michigan’s best chance is if running back Justice Haynes goes off. And the Wolverines can certainly win this game. But the travel curse is real – I just don’t trust when teams go across the country and play on the West Coast. It changes everything. At home, USC wins. The pick: USC 28, U-M 23.
Shawn Windsor
The Wolverines looked a little different last week with Sherrone Moore back on the sideline. They looked the same defensively, though.
Even accounting for the time zone jump that befuddles so many Big Ten teams (going both ways), U-M’s defense should travel just fine. The offense will do enough and the defense will do the rest to keep the Wolverines’ CFP hopes going. The pick: U-M 29, USC 23.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football vs USC picks, predictions for Big Ten showdown in Week 7
Reporting by Tony Garcia, Carlos Monarrez, Jeff Seidel and Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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