USC vs. San Jose State game preview, prediction: Who wins and why?

College Football HQ makes a prediction for the USC vs. San Jose State game as the Week 0 schedule kicks off

Week 0 of the college football season opens things up on Saturday with a pair of top 25 rivals in action, including No. 6 ranked USC, which comes into the fall as the favorite in the Pac-12 title race before heading off to the Big Ten, and hoping to stay in the College Football Playoff selection conversation looking ahead to a tough schedule.

Related: ESPN reveals Week 0 college football rankings

Here's what you need to know when USC and San Jose State square off at the Coliseum on opening weekend, along with our predictions for the game.

USC vs. San Jose State preview, prediction

Picks, predictions for USC vs. San Jose State in Week 0 college football action / USA Today Images

How to watch

When: Sat., Aug. 26

Time: 5 p.m. Pacific

TV: Pac-12 Network

Stream: fuboTV (Try for free)

Related: USC vs. San Jose State picks, predictions, Week 0 college football odds, spread, lines

San Jose State at USC odds

According to SI Sportsbook

Line: USC -30.5

Total: 66.5

Moneyline: USC -10000 | San Jose State +1100

Related: Week 0 college football picks against the spread

USC vs. San Jose State: What to watch

1. USC's defense. The big question around this team is how well it can stop people, something it couldn't do in the Pac-12 title game, when a College Football Playoff spot was on the line, or the Cotton Bowl, both losses. Alex Grinch's unit ranked near the bottom in the league a year ago, but brought in some major transfers in all phases, including Bear Alexander and Anthony Lucas on the line and linebacker Mason Cobb. San Jose State will test the defense early in the game, and this will be an important test on opening weekend.

Related: USC vs. San Jose State score prediction by computer model

2. Spartans attack. Watch how sixth-year senior quarterback Chevan Cordeiro starts the game in his first game against a top-10 team. He's coming off his best season in 2022, when he passed for 3,250 yards and 23 touchdowns and just six interceptions and comes in as the preseason MWC Offensive Player of the Year. He's playing behind a solid line that should give him time, and leads an offense that just doesn't turn the ball over all that much.

3. Heisman history? Few players have had the chance to really challenge Archie Griffin and become only the second player ever to win a second Heisman Trophy, but USC quarterback Caleb Williams comes into 2023 as the favorite to do just that. He's coming off a 4,537 yard season with 42 touchdowns and five picks and returns with another room of elite targets. Right now, the Heisman is his until proven otherwise.

Fast Facts

+ USC is 5-0 against San Jose State all-time

+ San Jose State was 1st in the Mountain West averaging 272.5 yards per game in '22

+ USC led the nation with a 1.6 turnover margin last season

+ Spartans had 20 turnovers last season, 1st in MWC

+ Trojans were No. 5 nationally with 29 gained turnovers

+ SJSU last beat a ranked team on the road in 1980

+ Southern Cal was No. 3 in total and scoring offense a year ago

+ San Jose State had a plus-11 turnover margin last season, 6th in nation

+ USC had its lowest-ever % of passes intercepted in 2022, 0.97% or 5 of 515 attempts

+ Spartans had 39 sacks in 2022, 1st in MWC and 7th nationally

+ USC broke a school record with 12 games of 30-plus points and 10 games of 40-points last season

USC vs. San Jose State prediction

Don't be surprised if Cordeiro and the Spartans get off to a good start, or even lead the game early on, but the USC defense will come into the opener with an axe to grind after hearing about how awful they were last season. 

After a close first quarter, Williams and his receivers should create enough breathing room to put the Spartans away and allow the Trojan D to see if it can continue last year's remarkable turnover luck.

College Football HQ prediction: USC wins 48-21, doesn't cover the spread, and hits the over

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