Week 0 of the 2026 college football season usually does not bring high-profile matchups to the gridiron, but there will still be some premier programs in action. One of those programs is USC, as the Trojans will host the San Jose State Spartans at 3 p.m. ET at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The Spartans are looking to get back to a bowl game in head coach Ken Niumatalolo's third season, while Lincoln Riley's Trojans have College Football Playoff aspirations. Bet on college football with the latest DraftKings promo code to get $200 in bonus bets after spending $5+: USC is a massive 38.5-point favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook, and the over/under for total points scored is 59.5. Those looking to get into college football betting for Week 0 and beyond should check out what the SportsLine Projection Model has to say before checking out the latest sportsbook promos at the best betting apps to make the most of their bets.
The model simulates every FBS game 10,000 times. It is on a 31-19 run on top-rated college football money-line picks since the 2024 season. It has also been upgraded for the 2026 season to even better factor in the transfer portal to help nail college football betting picks at sportsbooks and on betting sites.
Bet college football with the latest DraftKings promo code to get $200 in bonus bets after spending $5+: After winning seven games in Niumatalolo's first season, the Spartans won just three contests a year ago. Niumatalolo is going to be relying on plenty of transfers this season, headlined by former Hawai'i quarterback Luke Weaver. Weaver had some strong starts for Hawai'i but never could quite take over the starting job.
Sacramento State's Jordan Anderson appears to be the most established wide receiver among a transfer-heavy group, while Jabari Bates should step up to the lead role at running back as a returning player. If the transfers can mesh well together and Weaver consistently plays like he did in his two starts last year, the Spartans could be one of the better offensive teams in the Mountain West. Everything for USC begins with Jayden Maiava, who is expected to be a Heisman Trophy contender in his senior season.
He's one of the best passers in the country but can occasionally struggle with turnovers. In three of USC's four losses last season (including the Alamo Bowl), Maiava threw multiple interceptions. King Miller and Waymond James return to form a strong rushing tandem, but the receiver group loses Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane.
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