This has the makings of a shootout as the Southern California Trojans (3-2) play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-1). The IndFBS’s top passer, DeShone Kizer (1,143 yards, 8 TDs), and the Pac-12’s top receiver, JuJu Smith-Schuster (619 yards, 6 TDs), will be key to the outcome of this matchup. USC comes into this game looking to get back on track. While the Trojans have had their share of success this season, they have struggled as of late, having lost two in a row. The game will begin Saturday, Oct 17 at 7:30 p.m. ET and can be seen on NBC.
Notre Dame beat Navy 41-24 last week. Will Fuller had a big game in the win, totaling five receptions for 80 yards and one TD. DeShone Kizer also had a big day, contributing 281 yards and a TD through the air. USC didn’t have the same success as Notre Dame, falling to Washington 17-12. Tre Madden had an outstanding performance on the ground for the Trojans, rushing for 120 yards on 17 carries. Ronald Jones II finished with 65 rushing yards and a TD on eight attempts.
Notre Dame is a slight three-point favorite in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is unavailable at the moment.
Heading into Week 7 of the college football season, the Fighting Irish are 5-1 for both Straight Up (SU) and Against The Spread (ATS). The Notre Dame run game is productive, currently ranking 13th in the nation with 238.8 rushing yards per game. The Fighting Irish make it hard on their opponents in the third quarter. Notre Dame averages 10.8 points during that period, one of the best in the country. The Fighting Irish could have little trouble winning the time of possession battle this week. USC averages a time of only 25:09 per game, ranking them 126th in Division I.
Across the field, the Trojans have a record of 3-2 for both ATS and SU. Running the ball has yielded impressive results thus far for the Trojans. They average 5.3 yards per rush, one of the best rates in Division I. Switching gears to the USC defense, it has some favorable matchups that it may be able to take advantage of as well. If the Fighting Irish aren’t careful with ball security against USC’s defense, they are going to be in some trouble. That defense has recovered the 17th-most fumbles on the season with one per game. The Trojans have a habit of pouring it on before they go into halftime. They average 13.8 points during the second quarter, ranking 10th in Division I.
Predictions: SU Winner – Southern California, ATS Winner – Southern California
Notes
Notre Dame is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games.
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Notre Dame’s last 14 games.
Notre Dame is 14-2 SU in its last 16 games at home.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Notre Dame’s last 7 games at home.
Notre Dame is 3-10 SU in its last 13 games when playing Southern Cal.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Notre Dame’s last 5 games when playing Southern Cal.
Notre Dame is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Southern Cal.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Notre Dame’s last 5 games when playing at home against Southern Cal.
USC is 3-0 SU when leading at the start of the 4th quarter this season. Notre Dame is 5-0 SU when leading at the end of the third quarter.
