The biggest games and sporting events continue to take place in Las Vegas, and the 2024 college football season kicks off with a must-see matchup in the Vegas Kickoff Classic. Two teams from the Top 25 collide when the No. 13 LSU Tigers take on the No. 23 USC Trojans at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 1, kicking off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN+.

• USC Trojans vs. LSU Tigers (-4.5), Total 64.5

Fans are pouring into Las Vegas over Labor Day weekend for college football kickoffs and the big game, plus a host of other events and promotions. Las Vegas Sportsbooks are already taking big bets for the big college football kickoff weekend, including on the USC Trojans, where the line dropped from -6 to -4.5 in LSU’s favor.

“Our host hotels are sold out, the restaurants are all sold out, shows that are specific to the LSU or USC fan bases are sold out,” said John Saccenti, Vegas Kickoff Classic director. “We always get an analysis after the event and we know exactly what the economic impact number is, but based on what we’ve done the last few years at the Las Vegas Bowl, based on what we did at the last Kickoff Classic, I expect us to crush that number.”

Week 1 Top 25 Matches

A look at Saturday’s other Top 25 matches and key clashes, which will see two other Top 25 teams face off this weekend.

FanDuel and leading online college football sports betting game odds, futures and props These are periodically updated and are subject to change, including on live betting.

• No. 14 Clemson vs. No. 1 Georgia (-11.5) in Atlanta | 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN+
• No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas A&M (-3) | 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN+
• No. 23 USC vs. No. 13 LSU (-4.5) in Las Vegas | 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN+

Odds of Making the 12-Team College Football Playoff

American football teams’ odds to qualify for the 12-team playoffs are updated throughout the season. FanDuel’s pre-Week 1 odds are currently as follows:

• Clemson: Yes (+172), No (-220)
• Georgia: Yes (-520), No (+370)
• Notre Dame: Yes (-170), No (+138)
• Texas A&M: Yes (+225), No (-290)
• Southern California (USC): Yes (+470), No (-700)
• LSU: Yes (+128), No (-158)

Georgia is the heavy favorite to make the 12-team playoffs (bet $570 to win $100), while USC is the biggest underdog to make the CFP (bet $100 to win $470) of the six teams in the Top 25 play in Week 1.

Georgia is the heavy favorite to make the 12-team playoffs (bet $570 to win $100), while USC is the biggest underdog to make the CFP (bet $100 to win $470) of the six teams in the Top 25 play in Week 1.

USC vs. LSU Matchup and Props

Both teams have new quarterbacks, 22-year-old redshirt juniors. Southern Cal’s Miller Moss is behind 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, who was selected No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft to the Chicago Bears. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier was the backup to 2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels, who was selected No. 2 overall in this year’s NFL Draft to the Washington Commanders. But both QBs shined in their respective bowl games last season, combining for nine TD passes, as Williams and Daniels were absent in preparation for a big payday at their NFL Draft position. USC transfer QB Jayden Maiava from UNLV and the Mountain West is the Trojans’ backup quarterback to start the season.

Nussmeier has an SEC offensive line blocking and pass protection that are highly regarded for him. Two guards have a combined 30 starts and two tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones are NFL prospects looking to smash some foot-to-mouth power football against a USC run defense that allowed 186 rushing yards per game last season, which ranks 117th nationally.

Campbell is confident the Tigers plan to pound the ground against USC. “We’re going to run the ball,” Campbell said Tuesday. “That’s not something we’re going to hide or try to hide.” His headline comment is a rival on social media. “We’re not there to go to Caesars Palace. We’re there to start a fistfight.”

The total points increased by 1 point to 64.5, with the Trojans leading 21-6 about the total run and the Tigers drive a 19-2 about streak. Part of that is also due to the recent poor defensive play. New defensive coordinators for both teams will look to bolster defenses that allowed LSU 417 yards and 28 points per game last season while ranking 98th in the nation in giving up 6.23 yards per game. The USC Trojans allowed 433 yards and 34 points per game and were only slightly better at 90th in the nation in giving up 6.12 yards per game.

Conner Morrissette, a staff writer for USC football, was a guest on SiriusXM and the College Football Blitz on Wednesday to discuss and analyze the LSU-USC game.

“USC has made a tremendous effort to get better on defense, and they’re bigger on the defensive line,” he said, noting the tough task and challenge of facing LSU’s powerful offensive line. The Trojans’ new defensive coordinator, D’Anton Lynn, transferred from UCLA and is the son of former NFL Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn.

The Phil Steele college football preview rates the Trojans defensive position groups 10-12 out of 18 teams in the Big Ten. But Morrissette is high on the Trojans secondary, which has added a pair of Power 4 conference players. He also likes the talent and depth at receiver, which includes two-sport star Duce Robinson and former Las Vegas Bishop Gorman high school standout Zachariah Branch, who is also a home run threat in the kick and punt return game.

But LSU coach Brian Kelly is willing to gamble in Las Vegas that his comments during the opening game and press conference won’t backfire as much as they did last year, when No. 5 LSU was defeated 45-24 in opening week by No. 8 Florida State Seminoles.

“This puts us in a great position to outscore USC,” Kelly said after some general comments about the Tigers and the game against USC.

The future looks bright for the Trojans, but not on Sunday against LSU under the lights of Las Vegas or this season with one of the three toughest schedules in college football. Watch Only USC for memorable moments in the coming seasons as the Trojans aim to advance to the new 12-team College Football Playoff and win a Big Ten title. That just sounds weird.

Follow LSU-USC in Las Vegas and all the college football news, odds and fixtures throughout the season as sports betting in the legal U.S. league continues to grow in popularity.

You can count on that.

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