USC vs Stanford Picks and Odds (Jan. 11)

• The fifth-ranked USC Trojans are 5-point road favorites over the Stanford Cardinal in an NCAA men’s basketball game slated for Tuesday, January 11
• At 13-0, the Trojans are perfect for the 2021-22 season and have reached their highest ranking in five decades
• This game was originally scheduled for January 8 but was postponed due to COVID-19

So far, COVID-19 is proving to be the only entity capable of bringing a halt to the juggernaut that is the #5-ranked USC Trojans. Saturday’s game at Stanford against the Cardinal was postponed due to COVID-19. It was the third USC Pac-12 game to be postponed due to the coronavirus. The USC-Stanford contest was rescheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

The Trojans are a perfect 13-0 on the NCAA basketball season. Oddsmakers have set USC as five-point road favorites over Stanford. The Trojans are 4-2 against the spread as an away team this season.

#5 USC vs Stanford Odds

Odds as of January 10th at FanDuel.

Puck-drop for Tuesday’s game at Maples Pavilion is set for 5pm ET. Broadcast of the game is being provided by ESPN2.

USC Trojans Betting Trends

Playing for the first time since December 18 due to COVID-19 protocols, USC whipped the California Bears 77-64 on January 6. Junior forward Isaiah Mobley (19 points) and senior guard Drew Peterson (17 points) paced the Trojans offense, as USC halted Cal’s nine-game home-court win streak.

With their #5 placing, it’s the highest the Trojans have been ranked in a season since they were also #5 in the nation on December 30, 1974. USC is holding the opposition to 35.6% shooting. That ranks third in the country. USC has also held the opposition to a 27.5% from beyond the arc,  which is 17th in the nation.

Shout out to the 1974 team. Let’s bring those collars back for the coaches. https://t.co/0vFo5bMxAB pic.twitter.com/kSoWh6lzHr

— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) January 11, 2022

Mobley is averaging nearly a double-double on the season. He’s scoring a team-leading 15.3 points per game while pulling down a team-high 9.5 rebounds per contest. Mobley ranks 23rd in the country in rebounds per game.

Redshirt senior forward Chevez Goodwin is the Trojans’ second-leading scorer at 13.1 points per game. As well, he’s second on the team with 6.8 rebounds per game. Goodwin’s 64.3 shooting percentage is best among USC’s players with at least five shots attempted and ranks seventh in the country.   Mobley ranks first and Goodwin ninth among Pac-12 players in rebounds per game.

Stanford Cardinal Betting Trends

Stanford hasn’t played since a 79-76 win over Liberty in the Diamond Head Classic semifinal on December 23. The final of that tournament against Vanderbilt was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols within the Cardinal program. Stanford’s January 6 Pac-12 game against UCLA was also postponed.

The Cardinal are 8-4 on the season, including a 4-1 mark in December. Stanford is 6-0 at home this season. The Cardinal show an average margin of victory of 11.3 points per game at Maples Pavilion.

Getting better ahead of three games this week 💪#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/00u6gHSp3V

— Stanford Men's Basketball (@StanfordMBB) January 11, 2022

Senior forward Jaiden Delaire (12.3 points per game) and freshman forward  Harrison Ingram (12.2 ppg) lead the Cardinal is scoring. Ingram is also grabbing a team-high 6.9 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Michael O’Connell is pacing the team with 4.0 assists per game. Eleven different Cardinal players have scored in double figures in a game this season.

Stanford has outrebounded opponents in all 12 games this season. The Cardinal show a +9.3 margin on the glass. That’s 16th-best in the NCAA. According to KenPom, Stanford ranks in the top-20 nationally in offensive rebound (36.1%) and defensive rebound percentage (77.9%).

Cardinal vs Trojans Prediction

USC is 13-0 to start the season for the first time since 2017, when the Trojans opened the campaign 14-0. The school-record 17-0 start was set in 1910.

USC and 15-0 #1-ranked Baylor are the only undefeated teams still remaining in D1 college basketball. USC is seeking its first 3-0 road start in the Pac-12 since beginning conference play 6-0 in 1985.

Your Top 5 Trojans are on the road again! pic.twitter.com/kiAmsjwYhZ

— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) January 11, 2022

The Trojans lead the all-time series with Stanford 128-127. They’ve won the last three meetings. USC were 72-66 winners at Stanford last season.

The Trojans have won 10 of its 13 games by 10 or more points this season. USC’s 15.2 scoring margin ranks 21st in the NCAA.

Pick: USC -5 (-110)