USC Home Game. Photo by Bobak Ha’Eri, 11/11/2006. Answers.com

There’s one simple rule that all Vegas bookies know and all serious gamblers don’t want to believe: the house always wins. This rule has of late proved especially true when it comes to football at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC kicks off their season opener against the Idaho Vandals at the coliseum, where the Trojans’ current home-game win streak is a Pac-10 record of 33 consecutive wins.

Maybe that’s why Vegas favors the Trojans in their opener by an astounding 42.5 points (VegasInsider.com).Take the home game streak plus a top four finish, a trouncing over Michigan in the Rose Bowl and consensus number one pre-season rankings and it’s easy to see why Vegas thinks USC is a pretty safe bet. And considering that Idaho went only 4-8 last season in the W.A.C? Now that’s small potatoes…even for Idaho.

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