Texas A&M vs. USC odds, prediction: Las Vegas bowl picks, best bets

If you’re looking for some late-night gridiron competition Friday, you’ve come to the right place.

The Texas A&M Aggies come into Friday night’s Las Vegas Bowl against the USC Trojans as -190 favorites at BetMGM on the moneyline and four-point favorites against the spread.

The Aggies opened as one-point favorites, according to our college football bowl game opt-out and line movement tracker, and have since climbed three points.

Both teams are dealing with the transfer portal like everyone in college football.

USC will be down a couple of playmakers at wide receiver, including starter Kyron Hudson, who has transferred to Penn State, along with Duce Robinson and Zachariah Branch.

Texas A&M is also missing starting wide receiver Cyrus Allen, among others.

Texas A&M vs. USC odds

Texas A&M vs. USC prediction

(10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

USC essentially collapsed this fall, so anyone looking at a bet on USC isn’t just contending with opt-outs via the transfer portal, but they are also dealing with a nightmare season under head coach Lincoln Riley.

All things considered, Riley has done an underwhelming job as the Trojans’ coach.

Lincoln Riley has not wowed at USC. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

USC also just recently suffered a tough recruiting loss.

Julian Lewis, a five-star high school football recruit, de-committed from USC and instead joining Deion Sanders and Colorado next season.

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One potential difference in this game is on the defensive side.

Texas A&M’s defense should be much better in this spot, having been more effective than USC’s unit all season.

The Aggies allowed 5.4 yards per play in 2024, while the Trojans yielded 5.7.

The Trojans typically have a good offense, (6.3 yards per play, 19th-best in the nation) but they’ve lost so much in the transfer portal in terms of playmakers that it is hard to project them in this game.

You’re getting the worst of the number, but we’re betting on the Aggies to ‘Gig Em’ late Friday night.

PICK: Texas A&M -4 (-110, BetMGM)

Why Trust New York Post Betting

Erich Richter is a brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt but he has a black belt in MMA betting. During the football season he’s showcased massive profits at The Post in the player prop market the last two seasons. While constantly betting long shots, his return on investment is 30.15 percent since 2022.