USC Visits Notre Dame in One of College Football’s Biggest Rivalries

A big college football rivalry kicks off Saturday night from South Bend, Indiana when the No. 10 ranked USC Trojans visit the No. 16 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The current line has Notre Dame favored by 3.5 points with the over/under point total on 65.5.

Entering this game, USC on the season is 6-1 straight up and 1-6 against the spread. On the road, the Trojans are 1-1 SU and 0-2 ATS. Notre Dame on the season is 5-1 SU and ATS. At home, the Fighting Irish are 2-1 SU and ATS.

This is one of college football’s high-profile rivalries with USC winning eight straight in the rivalry from 2002 through 2009, have not won two consecutive against Notre Dame since, but did win last season and could make it two straight with a win on Saturday.

USC has entered the fourth quarter tied or behind in 4 of 6 games this season. Last week, the Trojans trailed by 7 points entering the fourth quarter, but rallied to beat Utah 28-27, when they held Utah from making a two-point conversion following a touchdown in the final seconds.

In their five wins, the Fighting Irish have had an average winning margin of 28 points, but lost its only game against a ranked team when they fell to Georgia, then No. 15, by the score of 20-19.

Notre Dame is led by quarterback Brandon Wimbush, who missed the team’s last game two weeks ago versus North Carolina with an injured foot, but is now 100%.

USC has a talented quarterback in Sam Darnold. He was expected to be in the running for the Heisman Trophy, but interceptions have hurt his effort. Last week was the first week Darnold has not thrown an interception all season.

USC running back Ronald Jones II has rushed for 100 or more yards in 4 of 6 games this season. Last season he ran for 134 yards against Notre Dame and one touchdown.

Josh Adams is the top rusher for Notre Dame. Last season against USC, Adams had 180 yards rushing. Earlier this season, he rushed for 229 yards against Boston College to set his career high.

In Notre Dame’s only loss, Georgia held Adams to just 53 yards on the ground.

USC is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games played.

Notre Dame is 4-0 ATS in its last 4 games played.

Prediction: Notre Dame is playing much better this season than last and USC is still not running on all cylinders. Look here for Irish to cover.