Notre Dame (8-3) will pay a visit to the venerable Los Angeles Coliseum for a showdown with longtime rival USC (10-1) before a national television audience.
There are storylines aplenty in this one as the Fighting Irish look to win their fifth in a row in the series, which dates back to 1926, while the Trojan quarterback hopes that a big-time performance will help his ever-increasing Heisman chances.
Notre Dame leads the all-time series 50-36-5, and the Trojans are 23-20-3 in games played in Los Angeles. Interestingly enough, the Trojans are 10-8-2 versus the Irish SU following a win over cross-town rival UCLA, which happened last week.
Another note of interest is that this is the 33rd time in the series that both teams have been ranked at game time. In those scenarios, When ranked higher coming in, USC is 11-6-2 SU.
Check out all the information below, including Notre Dame football stats, the latest college football injuries, college football stats, and everything you need to make a successful Notre Dame vs USC prediction. By the end of the article, you’ll know which teams college football point spreads to pick.
Best NCAAF Picks Week 13
This week, we will take a look at the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and USC Trojans, one of four college football matchups on the docket this week that feature ranked teams facing off.
In this case, USC is #6 while the Fighting Irish checks in at 15. See our Notre Dame vs USC predictions below in what figures to be another in a long and illustrious line of classics between the two blueblood programs.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. USC Trojans
Matchup Information
- Venue: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Matchup Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: The game will be broadcast on your local ABC affiliate.
- Where to Watch: The game will also be streamed online at LiveStreamSports.co.
Notre Dame vs USC Betting Analysis
Notre Dame Betting Analysis
Offense
Irish come in having won 5 in a row, granted, not exactly against a murderer’s row stretch through the college football schedule. The offense has matured and improved since early in the season. The team currently ranks 133rd overall in the NCAA in total yards and is much better on the ground than through the air.
On the season, the Irish snap it 69.6 times a game on offense and run it 55 percent of the time.
Since the 16-14 loss to Stanford, the team has scored 35 or more points 5 times in a row, including breaking the 40-point barrier on three occasions.
Defense
This is an area that has greatly improved as the season has gone on for ND. That improvement was accentuated last week as the Irish pitched their first shutout of the season and ensured that their defense would have a clean sheet for the third year in a row (they blanked Georgia Tech in ‘21 and USF in ‘20).
They rank top 40 in America in yards against and have proven to be more effective against the pass than against the run.
USC Betting Analysis
Offense
Upon taking the reins of USC, Lincoln Riley brought in Josh Henson as his offensive coordinator. Known throughout the sport as a standout offensive line coach, Henson isn’t exactly a household name and has only been an OC at the Power 5 level once before, at Missouri from 2009-2015.
Part of this can be explained by the fact that Riley’s experience is on the offensive side of the ball, and he, in fact, calls plays.
Full of elite talent both on the line and skill positions, the Trojans are fourth in America in total yards and sixth through the air while ranking T82nd on the ground. They snap it 75.2 times a game and throw it 60 percent of the time.
Defense
The Trojan defense has certainly bent but not broke many times this season. While their national rankings don’t jump off the page, A huge key to the team’s success is its +20 turnover ratio, as the defense has forced 24 turnovers, and the offense has committed just one fumble and thrown three picks.
Notre Dame vs USC Stats and Standings
In looking at the USC Trojans standings, USC has clinched the Pac-12 title and a berth in the conference championship game. As for the NCAAF standings, USC ranks 6th, just outside of the playoffs.
The Irish, while they face a college football schedule mainly comprised of ACC squads, is considered independent.
Most Remarkable Player for this Matchup
Player 1: USC QB Caleb Williams
A native of the DMV who transferred to USC following Riley from Oklahoma, Williams has quietly yet steadily emerged as a bonafide Heisman contender. A quick look at the markets shows that his price has dropped precipitously in the past three weeks, and he is now considered one of the favorites.
Williams has been extremely effective in home games, throwing 16 TDs and two picks and completing 65.6 percent of his throws. Against ranked teams, he completes it at basically the same percentage and has thrown for seven TDs and one interception. Nothing is more critical than an effective Williams when it comes to cashing in on your correct Notre Dame vs USC predictions.
Player 2: Notre Dame QB Drew Pyne
A sophomore from Connecticut, Pyne assumed the starting role this season after an injury to Tyler Buchner in Week 2. Currently, he has tossed 19 TDs and been intercepted five times.
He has been noticeably better as of last, tossing seven TDs and just two picks in his last four games, all wins. He has thrown eight TDs and completed 67.6 percent of his throws in road contests.
Player 3: USC WR Jordan Addison
Since his return from a lower leg injury following the mid-season loss to Utah, the Maryland native and sophomore has continued to be productive and explosive for the Men of Troy.
On the year, he has caught 51 balls for 765 yards and eight TDs. He averages 15 yards per catch and has not dropped a ball all season. Addison has had four 100+ yard games in 2022, none more impressive than last week’s win over UCLA when he caught 11 balls for 178 yards and a score.
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