The USC Trojans take on the New Mexico Lobos in Thousand Palms, CA, as part of the Acrisure Classic. Tip-off is set for 11:59 p.m. ET on truTV.
New Mexico is favored by 6 points on the spread with a moneyline of -250. The total is set at 154.5 points.
Here’s my USC vs. New Mexico predictions and college basketball picks for November 30, 2024.
USC vs New Mexico Prediction
My Pick: New Mexico -5.5
My USC vs New Mexico best bet is on the Lobos spread, with the best odds currently available at FanDuel. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
USC vs New Mexico Odds
| USC Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6 -110 | 154.5 -110o / -110u | +205 |
| New Mexico Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6 -110 | 154.5 -110o / -110u | -250 |
- USC vs New Mexico spread: New Mexico -6
- USC vs New Mexico over/under: 154.5 points
- USC vs New Mexico moneyline: New Mexico -250, USC +205
- USC vs New Mexico best bet: New Mexico -5.5
Spread
I'm backing New Mexico on the spread.
Moneyline
I'm passing on the moneyline.
Over/Under
I'm passing on the total.
My Pick: New Mexico -5.5
USC vs New Mexico College Basketball Betting Preview
Eric Musselman is a master of the transfer portal, but the Trojans have major issues right now that not even the Muss can fix.
USC has recorded some questionable, eye-opening results this season. First, it only beat Idaho State (231st in KenPom) by six points at home. Then, it gave up 95 points to UT Arlington (185th in KenPom). Third, USC lost outright to Cal as a 10-point favorite. Finally, the Trojans were defeated 71-36 — yes, 71-36 — by Saint Mary's on Thursday.
It's not a lack of experience that has held the Trojans back, as five of their top seven scorers are seniors. Rather, it's poor 3-point shooting and a shaky defense.
Because the Trojans don't have great threats from deep, teams can pack the paint and force them into straight line drives.
Also, Josh Cohen is a liability defensively, giving teams the perfect player to target for mismatches and their own drives.
Meanwhile, despite losses to St. John's and Arizona State, New Mexico is a dangerous team because of Donovan Dent. The junior is one of the best players in the Mountain West, as evidenced by his 30-point, seven-assist game against Arizona State on Thursday.
Dent has help, too, as Mustapha Amzil and Nelly Junior Joseph returned this season to provide experience, wing/interior scoring and rebounding.
This is not a team you want to mess with when you have defensive issues and when you can't keep up offensively with 3s.
I'm little concerned about New Mexico's lack of depth, especially considering it played a tight contest against Arizona State on Thursday and is No. 1 in KenPom's adjusted tempo metric.
But the Trojans' confidence is super low and they are still meshing with 10 transfers. At 1-6 ATS this season, I can't count on USC covering even 5.5 points.
