College Football Odds Week 5: USC vs Colorado Lines, Spreads, Betting Trends

Patrick Everson Sports Betting Expert

3 minute read

Week 5 of college football once again highlights the Colorado Buffaloes, who return home to battle Pac-12 favorite USC in Boulder. The Trojans are heavy road chalk in this matchup as coverage begins from Folsom Field on Saturday, September 30 at 12:00 p.m. ET on FOX.

Here's everything you need to know about the college football odds for Week 5 USC vs. Colorado: the opening lines, spreads, betting trends and more. Check back regularly for updates.

No. 8 USC vs Colorado Odds

• Opening point spread: USC -22.5
• Opening moneyline: USC -2500/Colorado +950
• Opening total: Over/Under 73.5 points scored
• Time: Noon ET Saturday (FOX)

UPDATE 11:30 A.M. ET SATURDAY: Thirty minutes from kickoff, USC is a 22.5-point favorite at BetMGM. The Trojans opened -27.5 and quickly dropped to -23.5 on the way to -21.5, where they spent most of the week. But the line climbed to USC -22.5 (-105) in the past hour.

The Trojans are seeing 52% of spread tickets/58% of spread cash. But once again, bettors are piling on Buffaloes moneyline, with Colorado getting 94% of bets/76% of money. Colorado is currently +900 to pull off the upset.

"The Colorado hype train is slowing down, but USC winning is still a massive need for the book," BetMGM trader Seamus Magee said.

BetMGM's total dipped from 73.5 to 72.5 Friday and remains 72.5 now. The Under is seeing 54% of tickets, while 57% of money is on the Over.

UPDATE 3 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Bettors aren't quite willing to jump off the Coach Prime train just yet, at least on the moneyline. And spread bettors are sticking around to a degree, as well.

PointsBet opened the Trojans -23.5 and briefly hit a low point Wednesday of -21. USC is now -21.5, with spread tickets dead even and 64% of spread money on the Trojans.

But on the moneyline, Colorado is attracting 98% of early tickets/94% of early money. The moneyline is currently Trojans -1425/Buffs +785, after sitting in the range of -3000/+1135 early in the week at PointsBet.

"Despite the lopsided result in Eugene last Saturday, bettors still are backing the Buffs at Folsom Field vs. USC and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams," PointsBet trader Ethan Useloff said. "The myriad of bets on the Colorado moneyline is to be expected. Bettors would prefer to back the moneyline of a heavy underdog rather than a heavy favorite, given the potential returns.

"Coupling that with the hype surrounding the Buffaloes and Coach Prime, and this shouldn't come as too much of a surprise."

PointsBet's total is stable at 73.5, with tickets almost 2/1 on the Under, but money 8/1 on the Over.

UPDATE 3 P.M. ET MONDAY: Colorado received a big come-uppance in Week 4 at Oregon. The Buffaloes (3-1 SU/2-2 ATS) closed as 21-point underdogs and got body-slammed 42-6, to the delight of bookmakers across the country.

Meanwhile, Southern Cal let Arizona State make a game of it into the fourth quarter. The Trojans (4-0 SU/2-2 ATS) won 42-28, but fell miles short laying 34.5 points on the road.

TwinSpires opened USC-Colorado at Trojans -22.5 and is down to -22. Southern Cal is getting 58% of early bets, and Colorado is seeing 58% of early money.

"Sharp play on Colorado +22.5," Lucas said. "Colorado won't be nearly as big of a liability as we've seen in the past, after that defeat to Oregon. We may even end up needing the Buffaloes by Saturday."

The total inched from 73.5 to 74 early, with tickets 4/1 and money almost 6/1 on the Over.

"It's been all Over money. The total can't be high enough," Lucas said.

Click here for Vegas Insider senior reporter Patrick Everson's full College Football Odds Week 5 Report containing spreads, lines, and trends for every Top 25 matchup.

Patrick Everson

Patrick Everson is a senior reporter for VegasInsider. Based in Las Vegas since 1994, he's worked in the sports betting journalism/content space for more than a decade. He's most known for his deep roster of contacts behind sportsbook counters, providing readers and viewers with the ins-and-outs of how events are being bet. He's also a thought leader in the sports betting space, often appearing on or moderating panels at national conferences. More from Patrick Everson