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The unranked USC Trojans (7-5) are set to face off against the No. 15 Louisville Cardinals (10-3) in the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl in San Diego on Wednesday night. The game will be broadcasted on FOX and the FOX Sports App. To get some insights on the upcoming game, we hear from Joel Klatt, a FOX Sports college football analyst and host of the "Joel Klatt Show," as well as expert pick from Bryan Fischer, a FOX Sports college football writer. Like many bowl games this season, both teams will be missing key players who have chosen to opt out

USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who won the Heisman Trophy after the 2022 season, is among the players who have opted out of the Holiday Bowl. In fact, over 20 Trojans players have decided to skip the game, including MarShawn Lloyd, a running back, and Brenden Rice, a receiver who happens to be the son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice. The uncertainty surrounding the USC lineup is a cause for concern. As Joel Klatt mentioned, "I have no idea who's going to be on the field for USC, which is wild." The team has experienced a lot of changes recently, with several players declaring for the NFL draft or entering the transfer portal. The game between No. 15 Louisville and USC is scheduled for 8 p.m

ET on Wednesday, and Louisville is favored to win by 6.5 points according to the point spread. The moneyline odds also heavily favor Louisville, with the Cardinals listed as a -250 favorite. However, despite the opt-outs and the challenges faced by USC, the game could still see offensive fireworks, as Bryan Fischer predicts. He believes it will be a high-scoring affair, with both teams combining for over 57.5 points. The Trojans started the season with high hopes, especially with the returning Heisman winner

However, they stumbled down the stretch, losing five of their last six games. On the other hand, Louisville finished second in the ACC under first-year coach Jeff Brohm, who previously played quarterback for Louisville. Klatt believes that Brohm's connection to the team and the city has helped in building a strong rapport with the players, leading to a successful season. For USC, redshirt sophomore Miller Moss is expected to start in place of Caleb Williams. Klatt sees this as a crucial audition for the young quarterback, with questions surrounding the team's future and its ability to fix their defensive issues. In the end, the Holiday Bowl promises to be an exciting matchup between two talented and innovative offensive playcallers in Brohm and Lincoln Riley

Bryan Fischer recommends taking the over on the total points scored by both teams, expecting a high-scoring game. To stay updated on college football and other sports, make sure to follow FOX Sports.