“Smart money is on over total 76 points”

This is what BetUS senior betting analyst Barry Barger thinks about Saturday night’s UCLA Bruins (8-2) - USC Trojans (9-1) matchup in the Rose Bowl.

Online sportsbook BetUS is expecting a particularly high-scoring game, with the over/under set at 76 points, which can be bet at -110 in both directions (bet $110 to win $100)

According to a BetUS report released Thursday 73.53% of the tickets and 89.25% of the dollar volume have been placed on over 76 total points.

“USC is looking to avenge their blowout loss at home 62-33 last year to UCLA, but this is too tight a game to bet the side. These are two powerhouse offenses with the Bruins #5 and Trojans #7 in NCAAF offensive yards this year, both with middling defenses. This monster-size rivalry should be a shootout with USC QB Caleb Williams approaching a 400-yard passing game,” Barger says.

“The smart money is on over the total as is the public, and this game should pay that off with a classic high-scoring finish!”.

BetUS currently has the Bruins as +2½ -points underdogs at home to the Trojans. They are +120 on the money line (bet $100 to win $120), with USC favored at –140 (bet $140 to win $100).

“Sharp” action on the Trojans

The BetUS report also shows that 54.42% of bets on the spread point have been placed on the Bruins; but of the total dollar volume, 61.29% has been bet on the Trojans.

This would typically indicate that so-called “sharp” bettors – professionals or those with more experience – are favoring the Trojans on the point spread, explains Barger.

“Sharps tend to make much larger wagers than the public at large, which is why you sometimes see discrepancies between the numbers of bets on one side but the dollar volume going the other way,” Barger adds.