Dan Lanning would rather have his team "stop looking into the future" after last week's stunning loss, but that won't stop sportsbooks from forecasting future games on the schedule.
The Oregon Ducks are hoping to turn the page quickly this week, preparing for a Friday night game as massive favorites against Portland State. However, the highly anticipated matchup on the road against USC looms the following week, and despite reeling from a big upset, the Ducks have some optimism from the oddsmakers.
FanDuel Sportsbook has released an early line for Oregon's game against USC, and the Ducks have opened as 1.5-point road favorites over the Trojans. FanDuel has also set the line for total points at 60.5 points, clearly expecting some fireworks at the Los
Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Oregon also has -118 odds on the money line. The Ducks have some issues to sort out on both sides of the ball before the game, but the oddsmakers have some belief in Oregon despite the doom and gloom around the program right now.
The Ducks have yet to cover the spread this season, and even doing so against Portland State this week as 58.5-point favorites will be a tall task. Obviously, based on the results of Oregon's game against the Vikings, as well as USC's first road trip of the season to Rutgers, the line for next week's game could change.
The stakes for the game, however, won't change. Oregon and USC are battling for several of the same recruits, many of whom will be in attendance, while the Ducks will search for their first statement win of the season after all momentum and expectations were snatched from their grasp against Oklahoma State. USC head coach Lincoln Riley has declared that the championship window is open for the Trojans, and a game against Oregon will be their first chance to prove it.
Oregon and USC will play in the national spotlight as well. The game is set to kick off at 4:30 p.m. PT and will air live on NBC.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks open as slim favorites over USC in early betting line
