USC's odds of winning College Football Playoff are improving

1/22

USC kicker Andre Heidari, right, celebrates with teammates Soma Vainuku, left, and Juju Smith as defensive end Leonard Williams leads the band following the Trojans’ 13-10 win over Stanford on Saturday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

2/22

USC running back Javorius Allen is tripped up by Stanford cornerback Alex Carter during the first half of Saturday’s game. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

3/22

USC’s Jordan Allen, center, fumbles the ball as he’s brought down by Stanford’s Jordan Richards during the first quarter. The Trojans recovered the fumble. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

4/22

Stanford’s Ty Montgomery, right, is brought down by USC’s Chris Hawkins during the first half of Saturday’s game. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

5/22

USC running back Justin Davis scores on a 1-yard run during the first quarter against Stanford. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

6/22

USC quarterback Cody Kessler celebrates after the Trojans score a touchdown during the first quarter of Saturday’s game against Stanford. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)

7/22

USC defensive end Leonard Williams, center, walks with his teammates onto the field to warm up before Saturday’s game against Stanford. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)

8/22

USC quarterback Cody Kessler makes a pass during the first half of Saturday’s game against Stanford. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)

9/22

USC running back Justin Davis dives into the end zone to score on a 1-yard carry in front of Stanford safety Kyle Olugbode, right, during the first quarter of Saturday’s game. (Tony Avelar / Associated Press)

10/22

Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan passes the ball during the first half of Saturday’s game against USC. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)

11/22

Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan makes a pass during the first half of Saturday’s game against USC. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)

12/22

Stanford’s Ty Montgomery runs with the ball during the first half of Saturday’s game against USC. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)

13/22

Stanford’s Remound Wright dives for a first down as USC’s Hayes Pullard leaps to make a tackle during the first half of Saturday’s game. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)

14/22

USC running back Justin Davis, left, is knocked out of bounds at the 1-yard line by Stanford safety Jordan Richards during the first quarter of Saturday’s game. Davis scored on the next play. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

15/22

USC running back Justin Davis dives just short of the end zone as he’s pushed out of bounds by Stanford’s Jordan Richards during the first quarter of the schools’ Sept. 6, 2014, matchup. Davis scored on the next play.

(Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)

16/22

USC quarterback Cody Kessler, left, is sacked by Stanford linebacker Peter Kalambayi during the first half of Saturday’s game. (Tony Avelar / Associated Press)

17/22

USC linebacker Scott Felix reacts after making a tackle against Stanford on Saturday. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)

18/22

USC players (from left to right) Scott Felix, Michael Hutchings and Gerald Brown move in a fumble by Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan (not pictured) during the closing seconds of the Trojans’ 13-10 win Saturday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

19/22

USC quarterback Cody Kessler slips away from Stanford’s David Perry during the third quarter of Saturday’s game. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

20/22

USC quarterback Cody Kessler can’t convert on fourth down after being pressured by Stanford linebacker Blake Martinez during the fourth quarter of the Trojans’ 13-10 win. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

21/22

USC linebacker Scott Felix holds up the ball after teaming up with safety Gerald Bowman to recover a fumble by Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan in the final seconds of the Trojans’ 13-10 victory. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

22/22

USC fullback Soma Vainuku celebrates the Trojans’ 13-10 victory over Stanford on Saturday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

By Lindsey Thiry

Sept. 8, 2014 3:04 PM PT

USC’s odds of winning the College Football Playoff are steadily improving, according to betting website Bovada.

After a 13-10 victory at Stanford, the Trojans are now at 12-1 to win the championship.

USC opened the season at 25-1 based on its 10-4 record in 2013 and the return of 21 starters under the direction of first-year Coach Steve Sarkisian.

The Trojans improved to 20-1 after their 52-13 season-opening victory over Fresno State.

USC won national titles in 2003 and 2004.

The Trojans play Saturday at Boston College.

Questions about USC? Email me at LNThiry@gmail.com or tweet @LindseyThiry and I will answer questions in a weekly USC Now mailbag.

USC’s odds of winning College Football Playoff are improving

More to Read

More From the Los Angeles Times