USC vs. LSU Live Stream, Where to Watch, TV Slot, Prediction, Pick, Spread, Football Matchup Odds
No. 13 LSU and No. 23 USC are set to meet in one of the season's most captivating non-conference games.
By Will Backus
3 hrs ago • 3 min read
Week 1 of the 2024 college football season continues with an exciting non-conference matchup between No. 13 LSU and No. 23 USC. The Tigers and Trojans will face off on Sunday night in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium for the second Vegas Kickoff Classic.
LSU's Recent Season Openers
LSU is no stranger to starting its season in a neutral-site game. In the past two seasons, the Tigers have faced Florida State in New Orleans and Orlando, Florida, in Week 1, losing both times. In fact, LSU hasn’t won a season opener since their 55-3 victory over Georgia Southern in 2019. To be fair, the Tigers’ last four openers have all been against Power Five opponents. Despite last year's opening loss, LSU bounced back to win 10 games in Brian Kelly’s second season as head coach.
USC's Opening Challenges
Lincoln Riley, USC's head coach, is 2-0 in season openers during his tenure with the Trojans. However, this will be the first time in several years that USC begins the season against a Power Five opponent. After an 8-5 record in 2023, the worst of Riley’s career, the Trojans are looking to make a statement as they transition to the stacked Big Ten Conference. A primetime game against a top-15 SEC team offers the perfect opportunity.
How to Watch USC vs. LSU Live
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 1
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
- TV: ABC
- Live Stream: Fubo (free trial available)
What You Need to Know About USC vs. LSU
Both Teams Replacing Heisman Winners: It's not every day that you see two teams start the season by replacing a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback. For USC, the Trojans are moving forward without Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. LSU, on the other hand, turns to long-time backup Garrett Nussmeier to take over from reigning Heisman winner Jayden Daniels, who was drafted right after Williams at No. 2 overall. It will be fascinating to see how USC's Miller Moss and Nussmeier handle the immense expectations in this game.
USC's Defensive Overhaul: Both teams have made significant changes on the defensive side of the ball. USC decided to part ways with defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, a long-time associate of Riley dating back to their days at Oklahoma. The Trojans hired D'Anton Lynn, considered a rising star in coaching, to replace him. Last year, Lynn led UCLA to the top spot in the Pac-12 for total defense (299 yards per game) and second in scoring defense (18.1 points per game).
Resetting Expectations: Both Riley and Kelly are entering their third year at USC and LSU, respectively, and there's a sense that neither has fully met expectations. Neither coach has won a conference championship, and neither has come close to making the College Football Playoff. With a combined 39 wins between them over two years, it's hard to say their tenures have been unsuccessful, but there's a lot left to accomplish given their track records, the programs they’re leading, and the individual player performances under their guidance. The new 12-team playoff format gives both coaches an enhanced opportunity to finally break through. A win on Sunday will go a long way in boosting their chances.
USC vs. LSU Prediction, Picks
Given how Miller Moss and Nussmeier performed in their respective bowl games last season, both should hit the ground running as full-time starters. USC and LSU are consistently stacked with talent at the skill positions, with plenty of standout weapons to ease the transition. LSU, in particular, is bolstered by one of the nation’s best offensive lines. There’s also a reason both teams decided to make a change at defensive coordinator: both defenses were lackluster last season. While the new quarterbacks might adjust quickly, it could take a few games for the new defensive coordinators to fully implement their systems. Expect a lot of points to be scored. Pick: Over 64.5
Expert Picks:
- Dennis Dodd: LSU -6
- Tom Fornelli: LSU -6
- Chip Patterson: USC +6
- Shehan Jeyarajah: LSU -6
- David Cobb: USC +6
- Jerry Palm: LSU -6
- Brandon Marcello: LSU -6
- Richard Johnson: USC +6
Which college football picks can you make with confidence in Week 1? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread—all from a proven computer model that has returned over $2,000 in profit since its inception—and find out.
