How the USC vs Utah game affects the College Football Playoff - College Football HQ Skip to main content Sign In October 14, 2022NewsRankingsSchedulesSI.comNewsRankingsSchedulesSI.comNewsletterHomeCollege Football HQNews How the USC vs Utah game affects the College Football Playoff raceUSC vs. Utah isn't just a measuring stick for the eventual Pac-12 championship, it's also a test run for the College Football PlayoffAuthor:James ParksPublish date:Oct 14, 2022 6:16 PM EDTA pair of Pac-12 contenders meet in Salt Lake City this weekend as Utah hosts USC, and as it turns out, the game could have an impact on how the College Football Playoff eventually looks. That's according to the Football Power Index computer prediction model, which forecasts future results based on scores and schedules to date. And when looking at this matchup, it appears one team has an outsized chance to use the outcome as a springboard to making the playoff. What it means for Utah Not much, apparently. Coming into the game, Utah has just a 1.1 percent chance to make the playoff, but could see those odds almost double by defeating USC, to 2 percent, and falls to under 1 percent with a loss. That's despite placing first in the Pac-12 with a projected per-game scoring margin of plus-16.4 points against an average team on a neutral field. Utah's remaining schedule: at Washington State, vs. Arizona, vs. Stanford, at Oregon, at Colorado What it means for USC A lot more: USC has a 34 percent chance to make the College Football Playoff by defeating Utah, thereby staying undefeated and moving to 7-0. A loss pushes the Trojans down to 10 percent owing to the computers not respecting the team's strength of schedule, just 55th in FBS right now. By winning out but not winning the Pac-12 title, USC has a 22 percent chance to make the playoff, compared to a 92 percent shot to make the final four by winning out and claiming the conference championship. USC's remaining schedule: at Arizona, vs. California, vs. Colorado, at UCLA, at Notre Dame More from College Football HQ for the Week 7 schedule of games USC vs. Utah preview, score prediction Trojans vs. Utes odds, spread, lines: Week 7 college football picks, predictions How to watch USC vs. Utah this weekend AP top 25 poll: Georgia, Ohio State jump Alabama in Week 7 rankings Week 7 college football point spread, betting lines for top games Expert picks, predictions for Week 7 games by computer model College football picks, predictions against the spread for Week 7 Week 7 college football games you should watch College football rankings: ESPN updated top 25 poll for Week 7 College football rankings According to AP top 25 poll 1. Georgia2. Ohio State3. Alabama4. Clemson5. Michigan6. Tennessee7. USC8. Oklahoma State9. Ole Miss10. Penn State11. UCLA12. Oregon13. TCU14. Wake Forest15. NC State16. Mississippi State17. Kansas State18. Syracuse19. Kansas20. Utah21. CincinnatiT-22. KentuckyT-22. Texas24. Illinois25. James Madison (FPI) Follow College Football HQ: Bookmark Rankings Facebook News How the USC vs Utah game affects the College Football PlayoffBy James ParksOct 14, 2022 6:16 PM EDTNews How Michigan vs Penn State affects the College Football Playoff raceBy James ParksOct 14, 2022 5:22 PM EDTNews How Alabama vs Tennessee will affect the College Football Playoff raceBy James ParksOct 14, 2022 3:32 PM EDTSchedules College football games today Week 7 TV schedule for FridayBy James ParksOct 14, 2022 3:01 PM EDTSchedules USC vs Utah schedule game time how to watch TV channel streamingBy James ParksOct 14, 2022 12:54 PM EDTSchedules Notre Dame vs Stanford schedule game time how to watch TV channel streamingBy James ParksOct 14, 2022 12:39 PM EDTSchedules Clemson vs Florida State schedule game time how to watch TV channel streamingBy James ParksOct 14, 2022 12:25 PM EDTSchedules Kentucky vs Mississippi State schedule game time how to watch TV channel streamingBy James ParksOct 14, 2022 12:18 PM EDTLoading…See MoreCLOSECLOSECLOSECLOSE