USC Trojans vs Penn St. Nittany Lions Predictions October 10, 2026
USC is projected to beat Penn State, USC 27, Penn State 24, with defensive disruption supplying the strongest matchup reason after five Trojans recorded sacks against Washington. Penn State’s leading rusher managed only 19 yards at Northwestern, raising questions about its offensive balance. The forecast carries low confidence, and neither the supplied spread nor total offers a strong enough edge for an actionable wager.
USC Trojans vs Penn St. Nittany Lions prediction and best bet
USC gets the narrow winning call for this Oct. 10, 2026 college football matchup. Its latest performance offers a plausible route to victory: pressure from several defenders, enough passing production to move the offense and a successful field-goal kicker. Those pieces favor the Trojans slightly against a Penn State team coming off a substantial defeat.
The official betting recommendation is Pass. One recent game from each team is a fragile foundation for pricing this matchup, particularly when USC benefited from a defensive touchdown. The Trojans are the projected winner, but that judgment carries less certainty than a recommendation to back USC +1.5 (-110) would require.
Odds, game time and how to watch
Date and broadcast: Oct. 10, 2026, on NBC.
Venue: Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania.
SportsJaw spread: USC +1.5 (-110); Penn State -1.5 (-110).
SportsJaw total: Over 55 (-106); Under 55 (-114).
SportsJaw moneyline: USC -107; Penn State -109.
Records: USC enters at 5-1 overall and 2-1 in Big Ten play. Penn State is 3-2 overall and 0-2 in conference play.