Free Pick | Friday | NCAA | Nov. 7

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#119 Northwestern +14 over USC 8:00 PM CT

These teams last met in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day 1996, which was the first appearance in Pasadena for the Wildcats since 1949. Traveling back to southern California is a daunting trip, but the Wildcats are off a bye week and looking for one more win to reach bowl eligibility. The last game for both teams came vs. Nebraska with a 28-21 road loss for Northwestern two weeks ago and a 21-17 road win for USC last week. The production numbers were very similar in the matchup for both teams despite the contrasting final outcomes. Northwestern has won four of the past five games and has three Big Ten wins as a surprise bowl threat from losing the first two FBS games of their season. USC won’t play Ohio State or Indiana but big games with Iowa and Oregon are still ahead in a month of November that could shift the course of the season for the 6-2 Trojans. It could be another underwhelming squad set for a minor bowl bid or a team with a pulse in the CFP race as a third team in the Big Ten. The Wildcats are on a 7-3 ATS run as a road underdog in Big Ten play since early in the 2023 season while covering in both games as a Big Ten road underdog this season. USC is just 11-19 ATS in the past 30 games as a favorite of 14 or more since 2017. USC struggled to pull away from Nebraska last week and this could be a letdown spot with a quick turnaround after playing big brand games in three straight games facing Michigan, Notre Dame, and Nebraska in succession. A massive game with Iowa is on deck with that game potentially very impactful in the Big Ten picture and 18 points in the largest margin of victory for USC in a power four game this season.