Posted on 9/21/2007 9:39:53 PM

NCAA Football Betting: Washington State Huskies vs. No. 1 USC Trojans

By Robby Maddux

Saturday, the No. 1 USC Trojans (-25) welcome the NCAA football betting family to watch them begin their quest for its sixth straight Pac-10 championship when they host their conference opener against the unranked Washington State Huskies (+25).

In Week 1, USC didn't look like a No. 1 team with a money-dropping 38-10 win over a soft Idaho club as the 49-point favorites. Following a Week 2 bye, the Trojans returned to their money-making dominate selves in a 49-31 cover win versus the No. 24 Nebraska Cornhuskers as a 9.5-point favorite to be 2-0 straight up and 1-1 against the spread.

The win was the Trojans 61st victory in 67 games, as quarterback John David Booty was 19-for-30 for 144 yards with two touchdown passes.

The ground game was virtually unstoppable. The rushing attack galloped for 8.2 yards per carry for a total of 313 yards on the ground. Stafon Johnson led USC's running game with 144 yards. The Trojans' rushing total was their most since hanging 403 against UCLA in 2005.

Last week, Washington State failed to cover the spread as the 24.5-point favorites, as quarterback Alex Brink threw for 307 yards and four touchdowns to beat Idaho 45-28. The previous week, Brink completed a school-record 38 passes for 469 yards in a 45-17 victory over San Diego State. The Cougars are 2-1 straight up and 1-2 against the spread.

Washington State and USC met once last season as the Trojans won 28-22 in Cougar territory but failed to cover the spread as the 14-point favorites.

The Cougars were 4-2 straight up against Pac-10 opponents last year before dropping their last three games straight up and against the spread.

Dating back to 2006, USC has cashed in five of their last seven, which includes a 32-18 bowl win over Michigan. USC has won 34 straight at home, including 23 consecutive conference games, which both Pac-10 records. The Trojans haven't lost at home since a 21-16 defeat against Stanford on Sept. 29, 2001.

However, Washington State has won two of its last four games at the Coliseum straight up, beating USC there in 1997 and 2000 before back-to-back losses in 2003 and 2005.

NCAA football odds have USC listed as the 26½-point favorites with a total of 64.

NCAA football betting has started, and BetUS sportsbook already has tons of college football Futures betting available for those of us who can't wait. Bet on the Heisman winner, Conference and Divisional winners and, of course, the 2008 BCS National Championship winner. Bet NCAA Football Futures in our sportsbook today in the Future / props section!