Cal sits as 14.5 point underdogs at USC

This might be the year! Or might not be!

The California Golden Bears will face their longest odds at victory likely this season against the USC Trojans. An early line had Cal as 14 point underdogs, while Vegas Insider situates Cal as 11.5 point underdogs on the open line (14.5 point underdogs is the first official line from a Vegas sportsbook).

Cal’s wonderful history against USC has been long documented. The Bears have not beaten the Trojans since 2003. They have closed the margin of defeat the last two years, losing by eight to USC in their last Thursday night matchup two years ago, and then narrowly falling by six last season at home.

But Cal will have a lot of factors going against them this time, with USC coming off a full week of rest and Cal getting only six nights before turning around to play football again. Cal has also saved their two worst efforts for the Los Angeles Thursday night game the last two years, getting outscored by USC and UCLA 57-19 in the first halves.

Cal fans, your thoughts on the line?