Ad Disclosure
ESPN’s FPI predicts the outcome of Penn State at USC in Week 7
Published:
ESPN’s Football Power Index predicts the outcome of every college football game every week.
After a wild slate in Week 6 that featured some notable upsets, the model has revealed its predictions for Week 7. Included in the Week 7 predictions is the B1G matchup between Penn State and USC.
The model sees this game as a coin flip, giving the Trojans a 51.6% chance to win, meaning the Nittany Lions have a 48.4% chance. This is about as close as it gets, meaning we could be in for another classic game in Week 7 and a potential upset.
The Trojans will be motivated to get back in the win column after stumbling against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on the road. USC has 2 conference losses already, so another loss in Week 7 would be extremely disappointing.
The first conference loss for the Trojans came in a hard-fought game against Michigan. The Trojans mounted a comeback but ultimately lost 27-24.
Penn State, meanwhile, has had a relatively easy route so far. The Nittany Lions are 5-0 overall and 2-0 in B1G play with wins over Illinois and UCLA and is up to No. 4 in the country on the latest AP Poll.
Going across the country to play in Los Angeles against a team desperate for a win, however, is why the model slightly favors USC. LA Memorial Coliseum is not the easiest place to play, especially for an East Coast team.
The last time these teams played was in the 2017 Rose Bowl. That game was an instant classic, and the Trojans went on to win 52-49. Overall, these teams have played 10 times, with the Trojans getting 6 wins and the Nittany Lions getting 4.
This matchup between new conference foes will kick off on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Bryce Lazenby covers college football for Saturday Tradition. A Nashville native, his previous stops include FanSided, Dimers, and The Leaf-Chronicle.