USC takes on Notre Dame in one of the most historic rivalries in college football. According to OddsShark, Notre Dame is favored by 3.5 points, and the over-under is set at 65.5 points.
Notre Dame has been equally good on the field and in Vegas. The Irish are 5-1 straight up and against the spread. While USC is a respectable 6-1, the Trojans are just 1-6 against the spread. Three of USC’s games have hit the over, while four have hit the under on the point total. Notre Dame has hit the over in four out of six games.
The OddsShark computer expects a close game. The computer is projecting a 35.4-34.8 Notre Dame victory. The computer is taking USC to cover the spread, and the over on the point total.
SB Nation’s S&P+ projections like Notre Dame by a wider margin. The computer projects a 31.6-25.8 Notre Dame victory.
USC is coming off a narrow victory over Utah. The Trojans have had one of the tougher schedules in the country. USC has wins against Stanford, Texas, Cal and Oregon State. Their lone defeat came in a Friday night matchup at Washington State.
Sam Darnold entered the season as one of the top quarterback prospects in the country. Darnold has shown flashes, but needs to limit his turnovers. Darnold has thrown for 2,063 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Notre Dame has also faced some tough opponents. The Irish are coming off a blowout win against North Carolina. Notre Dame also has wins over Michigan State, Boston College, Temple and Miami of Ohio. Notre Dame’s only loss came against Georgia in a one-point defeat.
Brian Wimbush has been solid for Notre Dame with 783 passing yards and six touchdowns. The real story for the Irish has been their rushing attack led by Josh Adams. Adams has rushed for 776 yards and five touchdowns. He has three games where he rushed for over 150 yards.
This game is a coin flip. While the metrics favor Notre Dame, USC comes in more tested, and we like the Trojans to upset the Irish at home. Look for Darnold to put together a showcase game against the Irish.
Heavy’s Pick: USC 38 Notre Dame 34. USC Covers +3.5 Spread. Over on the Point Total.
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USC vs. Notre Dame Odds: Point Spread, Total & Prediction