Stanford vs. USC Betting Preview

Stanford (+11) looks to pick up its second straight win tonight as it travels to No. 15 USC in a Pac-12 basketball bout at 11 PM ET tonight.

The Cardinals are an 11 point road dog and have lost 2 of their previous 3 and have failed to cover all three. After starting Pac-12 play in the new year with two impressive wins over USC at home and Washington State on the road, Stanford has slipped back with a loss to a putrid Washington team and then proceeded to get blown off the floor against Arizona. 

Since USC fell to Stanford on the road by six on January 11, the Trojans have won 4 of their last 5 and have covered their last three. 

As a home favorite of 6.5 to 12 points this season, USC is 2-1 ATS and 3-0 straight up, and when total is between 135-139.5 it is 7-0 ATS. The total tonight is right at 139.5. 

USC has seen success against Stanford at home the last three seasons going 3-1 ATS and 4-0 straight up. It has struggled to cover at home this season, going 4-5 ATS however against conference opponents they are 6-3 ATS. 

This is a tough game to pick since Stanford getting 11 points. That many points for a team that just won this matchup 16 days ago by six makes me want to side with them. Oh, and pair that with the fact that the public is overwhelmingly on USC, I really want to go with Stanford. 

Then I take a step back and look at some stats. USC is the more complete team with a highly efficient offense and superb defense at home. The fact the Trojans lost on the road to this Stanford team makes this a revenge game, and in USC’s only other revenge game this season it covered the spread.  

Yes, we all know that Stanford ended USC’s perfect season just a few days ago in thrilling fashion. But that was on Stanford’s home court, where it is a scorching 8-1 straight up. Leaving home has been the problem for Stanford this season, they are 2-3 ATS on the road and just 1-4 straight up. 

The pick: USC -11