USC is set to go head-to-head with Louisville in the upcoming Holiday Bowl at Petco Park in San Diego on December 27, as announced by officials on Sunday. The Trojans enter the game with a somewhat disheartening 7-5 record, having lost five of their last six matches and concluding the season tied for fifth place in the Pac-12 Conference.
On the other side, the Cardinals wrapped up their season with a 10-3 record but faced a setback in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game, losing 16-6 to Florida State this past Saturday.
See below the updated odds for the Holiday Bowl from three of the best online betting sites.
| 2023 Holiday Bowl Winner Betting |  | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | -320 | +260 | USC |
| Spread -8.0 | -110 | -110 | Spread +8.0 |
| Over 57.0 | -110 | -110 | Under 57.0 |
While USC and Louisville have never crossed paths on the football field, the Trojans boast a history in the Holiday Bowl. They have participated in three previous games. Their track record includes a victory against Nebraska in 2014 (45-42), a defeat to Wisconsin in the subsequent year (21-23). They lost to Iowa in 2019 (24-49).
Louisville, however, is a newcomer to the Holiday Bowl scene. The highly anticipated game is scheduled to kick off at 5 p.m. and will be broadcasted by Fox. Officially titled the 44th DIRECTV Holiday Bowl, it promises an exciting clash between the two teams.
In their recent contest, the Cardinals experienced a setback, losing 16-6 to the Florida State Seminoles.
Jack Plummer, the Cardinals’ quarterback, had a performance of 111 yards on 14-of-36 passing (38.9%) in the matchup against the Seminoles. Unfortunately, he did not secure any touchdowns and threw one interception. On the ground, Jawhar Jordan contributed 52 yards on 14 carries, averaging 3.7 yards per carry, and also made three receptions for an additional 21 yards. Additionally, Jamari Thrash had a notable game, recording seven receptions for 57 yards, averaging 8.1 yards per catch, against the Seminoles.
In their most recent outing, the Trojans suffered a loss to the UCLA Bruins, concluding the game with a final score of 38-20.
Caleb Williams showcased an impressive performance for the Trojans in that matchup, recording 384 passing yards on 31-of-42 attempts. He secured one touchdown but also threw one interception. On the ground, MarShawn Lloyd had a modest eight-carry, 17-yard game, averaging 2.1 yards per attempt. Additionally, Lloyd contributed in the passing game with three receptions for a noteworthy 75 yards.
Brenden Rice emerged as a key target for the Trojans, hauling in eight passes on 10 targets for an impressive 147 yards. He averages 18.4 yards per reception. Rice also made a significant impact by scoring one touchdown during the game.
The Cardinals are favorites -8.0 against the Trojans. The total is set at 57 points.
You can read our Bovada sportsbook review for more information on this betting site.
The Holiday Bowl, a postseason college football game in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, has been hosted in San Diego since 1978.
The bowl did not occur after the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting from the 2022 edition, the bowl is held at Petco Park in San Diego, following a five-year agreement established in 2021. This baseball park, serving as the home of the San Diego Padres, undergoes reconfiguration to accommodate a football field.
Check out the top Vegas college football betting sites to discover the best site for your Holiday Bowl bets.
