San José State Spartans vs USC Trojans Picks and Prediction for Saturday August 29 2026

The San José State Spartans travel to Los Angeles to face the No. 14 USC Trojans on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET, with national television coverage on NBC and Peacock. USC enters its season opener as one of the largest favorites on the Week 0 board, with the Trojans currently laying 38.5 points.

This matchup brings together programs coming off very different 2025 seasons. San José State finished 3-9, losing four of its final five games, while USC enters 2026 ranked 14th nationally after another winning season. The Trojans have also controlled this series historically, winning all six previous meetings. The college football season is set to kick off make sure you are ready for the action with our free college football picks.

San José State Faces a Massive Opening Test

San José State enters 2026 looking to rebound from a difficult 3-9 campaign. The Spartans' season deteriorated down the stretch, with losses to Air Force, Nevada, San Diego State and Fresno State over their final four games. Their lone victory over the final five came in a 45-38 game against Hawaii.

The Spartans will turn the offense over to Luke Weaver, who has been named the starting quarterback for the opener. San José State's spread-oriented attack should give Weaver opportunities to get the ball out quickly, and tempo could be one way for the Spartans to keep USC from settling comfortably into the game defensively.

The bigger question is whether San José State can sustain drives. Facing USC on the road is a major jump in difficulty, and the Spartans cannot afford repeated three-and-outs or turnovers that create short fields. With a spread approaching 40 points, San José State doesn't necessarily need to threaten an upset to cover, but it does need to generate enough offense to avoid allowing USC to turn the second half into an extended blowout.

USC Opens 2026 With Major Expectations

USC begins the season ranked No. 14 in the AP poll and should have an opportunity to establish itself quickly before the schedule becomes more demanding. The Trojans have won each of their five season openers under Lincoln Riley, going 4-1 against the spread in those games.

The Trojans also bring stability at quarterback with Jayden Maiava returning to direct the offense. USC's ability to create explosive plays gives it an enormous offensive ceiling in this matchup, particularly against a San José State team that struggled throughout 2025. The Trojans shouldn't need an especially complicated offensive plan to generate scoring opportunities.

USC's defense is equally important when evaluating a number this large. New defensive coordinator Gary Patterson inherits a unit expected to have improved depth and talent in the front seven. If the Trojans can pressure Weaver without consistently committing extra defenders, San José State could struggle to sustain enough drives to remain within the number.

San José State Spartans vs USC Trojans Picks and Prediction

Pick: USC Trojans -38.5

Laying nearly 40 points in a season opener always carries risk, but the talent and depth differences are substantial enough to back USC. San José State went 3-9 last season and closed the year with four consecutive losses, while USC enters ranked 14th and has been excellent in season openers under Riley. The Trojans should have advantages on both lines of scrimmage and enough offensive firepower to build a substantial lead before their depth takes over. Take USC -38.5.

Pick: Under 57.5

The under is the better total play at 57.5. USC could account for most of the scoring and still leave this game below the number. San José State's biggest concern is generating enough consistent offense against an opponent with a considerable personnel advantage, while a commanding USC lead would also create an opportunity for the Trojans to become more conservative offensively later in the game. A result somewhere in the neighborhood of 45-7 or 48-7 fits the matchup, making Under 57.5 the total pick.