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Picking Every 2016-17 College Football Bowl Game Against the Spread

By Michael Collins

Jan 9, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; General view of the college football playoff trophy during media day at Phoenix Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; General view of the college football playoff trophy during media day at Phoenix Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 1, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; General view of the Rose Bowl before the game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Stanford Cardinal in the 2016 Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; General view of the Rose Bowl before the game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Stanford Cardinal in the 2016 Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual
No. 9 USC (9-3, 7-2 Pac-12) vs. No. 5 Penn State (11-2, 8-1 Big Ten)
Jan. 2 – 5 p.m., ESPN
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.

Average Line: USC, -7

USC may be the second most improved team in the nation…behind Penn State. What the Nittany Lions did to close out this season was one miracle after another. Has the magic run dry?

The Trojans are a more complete team, and have more star power to boast, but that didn’t stop Penn State from beating Ohio State and Wisconsin. PSU quarterback Trace McSorley has been putting up NFL-like numbers.

Given what we’ve seen of how well the Trojans shut down passing games, this one is going to come down to how much push the Penn State offensive line can get to make some holes  for Saquon Barkley.

USC’s defense is going to be tough, and playing in the Rose Bowl will make it practically a home game for the Trojans. Not an easy task for the Lions.

Prediction: USC wins the game, but won’t cover the spread. Take Penn State to beat a 7-point spread.

Next: Sugar Bowl

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