UCLA vs USC Prediction: One of College Football’s Most Beautiful Games
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Oh sure, the luster is off the showdown after USC couldn’t stop screwing up in what amounted to a season-ending, at least in terms of the big things that matter, loss at Oregon.
And yeah, UCLA is in a transitional period in a whole slew of ways.
But it’s late November, it’s UCLA vs USC, and as always, it should be beautiful in the early-afternoon Los Angeles sunshine (fingers-crossed that the clouds will be gone).
The colors, the green grass, the sunshine – when this thing isn’t played at night – it’s always one of the rites of passage in a college football season.
Even if it doesn’t mean anything big to the Big Ten race and the national championship hunt, at least put it in one of the boxes in your multiview – if you have the feature. It’s always worth the watch.
UCLA vs USC Preview
How To Watch UCLA vs USC
Date: Saturday, November 29, 2025
Game Time: 4:30 PM ET
TV: NBC
Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
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Why UCLA Will Win
It’s still trying hard.
There hasn’t been a whole lot of luck, and it didn’t help that star quarterback Nico Iamaleava got hurt against Washington, but there’s enough there in the rivalry game to make this a fight.
It seems basic, but this is UCLA’s bowl game. USC, while it cares about this, saw its dreams last week get squashed. Now it’s playing for the best Former Pac-12 Program bowl slot it can grab.
That all might sound murky, but this wasn’t exactly the most focused Trojan team in the loss to Oregon. Two turnovers, eight bad – sometimes really bad – penalties, poor caddying.
If that was supposed to be the game when USC had to be its sharpest, what will this be?
The Bruins have to control the game on the ground to have a chance. That mostly came from Iamaleava when things were working, but the three wins came when the offense ran for more than 170 yards. USC is 2-3 when giving up that many or more, and …
Why USC Will Win
In the name of Charles White, and Marcus Allen, and Anthony Davis, Reggie Bush, Mike Garrett and O.J. Simp… okay, maybe we’re good – hand the ball off, USC, and keep handing it off.
The UCLA run defense has gone bye-bye.
It wasn’t great early on this year, but over the last month, it’s been hammered on way too easily. Indiana, in its own way, Ohio State – because it’s Ohio State – and last week, Washington rumbled at will, even without Jonah Coleman being able to fully go.
Hand it off 45 times, and then keep handing it off, get 250 yards, move on.
UCLA vs USC Prediction, Betting Lines
UCLA has lost three of the last four, but it always brings the effort. That won’t be enough.
USC will try to keep the scoring going as much as possible with several weeks off to rest up and get ready for what’s sure to be a late-December bowl.
It might not be the best overall performance, but the Trojans will turn it on late.
USC 41, UCLA 17
Line: USC -21.5, o/u: 59.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5
Must See Rating: 3
Consensus Line from BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Related: Ohio State vs Michigan Prediction: Can the Wolverines Do It Again?
This story was originally reported by College Football News on Nov 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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