Tue Jan 28 03:00:00 UTC 2025: ## USC Trojans Favored to Upset UCLA Bruins in LA Rivalry Game

**Los Angeles, CA** – The crosstown rivalry between the UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans heats up Monday night at Galen Center, with the Trojans surprisingly favored to win their Big Ten Conference showdown. Despite UCLA holding a slight edge as the road favorite, experts are predicting a USC victory.

The game is tightly contested, with a point spread of just one point. USC, boasting a 4-4 conference record, has shown improved form recently, winning three of their last four games. Their strong performance in conference play is attributed in part to the stellar play of leading scorer Desmond Claude, who recently dropped 31 points in an upset win against Illinois and averages 16.3 points per game on the season.

UCLA, while projected for an NCAA Tournament berth, has struggled offensively on the road, averaging just 65 points per game away from home. This offensive weakness, coupled with USC’s strong offense (ranked 5th in adjusted efficiency and 6th in three-point percentage in Big Ten play) and solid defense (5th in three-point percentage defense), suggests UCLA may find scoring difficult.

KenPom analytics further support the USC prediction, highlighting the Trojans’ offensive prowess and the Bruins’ comparatively weaker offensive ranking within the conference.

The prediction leans toward a USC moneyline victory, with odds available at -105 (playable up to -120). Historical data also favors USC, with betting on them showing a significant return on investment this season, and nine of their last eleven matches against UCLA going under the total points. Conversely, UCLA has struggled to cover the spread in recent road games against superior opponents.

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