Northwestern vs USC: 3 Player Props and Best Bet for Friday, November 7

The Big Ten has offered up several intriguing Friday night matchups this season. Tonight’s game featuring the Northwestern Wildcats (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) traveling west to face the No. 19-ranked USC Trojans (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten) is no different.

Northwestern’s losses this year have been solid. The Wildcats have fallen to Oregon, a potential playoff-bound Tulane, and Nebraska this season. The academic stalwart has impressive wins over UCLA and Penn State, adding to their resume.

USC is still competing for the playoffs, needing to win out to have a realistic chance of achieving that goal. The Trojans own wins over Michigan and Nebraska, and the schedule becomes increasingly difficult following this home contest.

Can USC remain undefeated at home? We’ll cover that and provide bettors with our top three player props for Friday’s Big Ten matchup.

USC Trojans QB Jayden Maiava UNDER 264.5 Passing Yards

Jayden Maiava is the next Trojan quarterback with a legitimate shot to play on Sundays. The junior has completed over 65 percent of his passes this year, notching 2,315 yards, 15 touchdowns, and only five interceptions as USC’s starter.

Northwestern hasn’t faced a strong pass-oriented offense this year. In Big Ten play, the Wildcats have yet to allow more than 200 passing yards. That’s the only reason bettors should take the under on Maiava’s total tonight, expecting the Trojans to focus their offensive efforts on running the football instead.

Northwestern Wildcats RB Caleb Komolafe OVER 70.5 Rushing Yards

The Wildcats have a talented running back in Caleb Komolafe. The sophomore leads Northwestern with 608 rushing yards on 124 carries, scoring seven times thus far. He’s accounting for more than 40 percent of Northwestern’s total rushing yards this season.

Both Nebraska and Notre Dame have gashed the Trojans’ run defense, allowing close to 500 yards over their past two outings. Northwestern will focus on running the football, allowing Komolafe to cover this player prop bet total.

USC Trojans WR Makai Lemon OVER 89.5 Receiving Yards

Junior wide receiver Makai Lemon has had a season. The 5-foot-11 wideout has 50 catches for 776 yards and six touchdowns in 2025, nearly matching his totals last season with several games remaining on the schedule.

Last week, Nebraska shut him down, holding him to just two receptions for 18 yards. Northwestern doesn’t have as many talented cornerbacks on its roster, making him a strong bet to surpass the 90-yard mark for the sixth time this season in Friday’s game.

Best Bet: Northwestern (+14.5)

Oddsmakers believe this will be a high-scoring contest, putting the total points scored at 51.5 points. Both Northwestern and USC have shown capable defenses this season, making the under a tempting wager to take.

Instead, bettors should focus on the spread. While the Wildcats have a pair of 20-point losses on their resume, I don’t believe that USC is three scores better than Northwestern, especially with an extra week to prepare for this contest. That’s why individuals should take the Wildcats to cover this spread on Friday.