USC vs Texas A&M prediction & betting tips - Dec. 27 - Las Vegas Bowl

The USC Trojans play the Texas A&M Aggies on Friday in the Las Vegas Bowl at 10:30 p.m. ET. The game can be seen on ESPN.

USC (6-6) ended the 2024 season with a 49-35 loss to Notre Dame. Meanwhile, Texas A&M (8-4) finished the regular season with back-to-back losses to Texas and Auburn.

USC vs. Texas A&M: Preview

USC is a 3.5-point underdog, while the over/under is set at 52 points.

The Trojans had a disappointing season in their first year of Big Ten football. USC did have a good win over Nebraska and Wisconsin, but other than that, it was a bad year. The Trojans will also be missing some key players, as the full list of players not playing is as follows:

• Zion Branch, S (transfer portal)
• Zachariah Branch, WR (transfer portal)
• Duce Robinson, WR (transfer portal)
• Mason Murphy, OL (transfer portal)
• Sam Greene, EDGE (transfer portal)
• Jake Jensen, QB (transfer portal)
• Amos Talalele, OL (transfer portal)
• Denis Lynch, K (transfer portal)
• Kyron Hudson, WR (transfer portal)
• Gino Quinones, OL (transfer portal)
• Miller Moss, QB (transfer portal)
• Quinten Joyner, RB (transfer portal)
• Kade Eldridge, TE (transfer portal)
• Antony Lucas, DL (injury - out)
• Bear Alexander, DL (opt-out)
• DJ Peevy, DL (transfer portal)
• Eric Gentry, LB (injury)
• Raesjon Davis, LB (injury)
• Jaylin Smith, CB (opt-out)
• Garth White, K (transfer portal)

The Trojans will be led by Jayden Maiava, who replaced Miller Moss at quarterback and threw for 906 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions. Star running back Woody Marks has rushed for 1,133 yards and nine touchdowns.

However, two of their top three receivers will not play in the game, which will hurt their passing offense.

Texas A&M, meanwhile, ended the year on a two-game losing streak but has most of its roster playing in the Las Vegas Bowl. The full list of players not playing is as follows:

• T.J. Shanahan, OL (transfer portal)
• Kam Dewberry, OL (transfer portal)
• Hunter Erb, OT (transfer portal)
• Jaden Platt, TE (transfer portal)
• Jaylen Henderson, QB (transfer portal)
• Conner Weigman, QB (transfer portal)
• Cyrus Allen, WR (transfer portal)
• Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, DL (transfer portal)

The Aggies will start Marcel Reed, who threw for 1,572 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. Le'Veon Moss has rushed for 765 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Noah Thomas led the team with 545 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

The Trojans have too many impact players not playing in the bowl game, which will hurt their chances here against Texas A&M. The Aggies also have a chip on their shoulder after their two-game losing streak to end the year.

Ultimately, Reed will be able to have success throwing and running the ball as he will lead Texas A&M to a Las Vegas Bowl win here.

Prediction: Texas A&M 28, USC 24

USC vs. Texas A&M: Preview

Tip 1: Texas A&M ML (-170)

Tip 2: Texas A&M -3.5 (-108)