Holiday Bowl Odds
| Louisville Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -110 | 57.5 -110o / -110u | -295 |
| USC Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -110 | 57.5 -110o / -110u | +235 |
Caleb Williams has likely thrown his last pass for the USC Trojans after head coach Lincoln Riley announced that the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner won't play in the Holiday Bowl this year. The Trojans started the year 6-0, but they finished the second half of the season 1-5, including losses in their final three games.
Williams didn't shine in the same way he did during his Heisman season — he had his single-game high in interceptions against Notre Dame at the start of USC's losing skid — but the star QB is still the odds-on favorite to go No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft at -300. The closest player on the odds board at FanDuel, Drake Maye, is +250, and the entire field is listed at +195.
His teammates will still be on the field, though, and the outlook isn't great for USC without Williams. Louisville opened as a 6.5-point favorite over USC in the Holiday Bowl at FanDuel, and the line has since moved to Louisville -7.5 as of Tuesday.
Our college football betting expert, Collin Wilson, projected the Louisville vs USC spread at USC -0.5 based on his College Football Betting Power Ratings, but that number accounted for Williams being in the lineup. Without Williams, USC is projected to be a 5.5-point underdog based on Wilson's Power Rating.
We don't yet know who will replace Williams at QB when the Cardinals and Trojans face off in San Diego this month, but USC has two backup options waiting in the wings: Miller Moss and Malachi Nelson. Moss has seen the field in four games this season and completed 23-of-32 passes for 309 yards and a touchdown, along with two touchdowns on the ground.
More College Football Bowl Coverage
