USC Trojans vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish – Picks & Predictions

USC Trojans vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish – Picks & Predictions

The stage is now set for the undefeated and currently No. 10 overall USC Trojans to head to South Bend to take on the No. 21 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish as underdogs on Saturday night.

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Odds for this pivotal tilt are available on all betting apps featuring a mix of spreads, moneylines, totals, and props.

  • Game Time: Saturday, October 14, 6:30 PM
  • Location: Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TX

Head-to-Head: USC Trojans vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish  

Even though Notre Dame’s playoff hopes have dwindled after their 33-20 loss to Louisville last week, Marcus Freeman’s team has a chance to make amends by spoiling USC’s perfect season.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have an average of 437.9 yards per game, ranking them overall No. 34 in Division 1.

The Fighting Irish’s offense has incurred 355 yards in penalties on 42 infractions, which places them 21st in Division 1 in terms of benefiting the opposition. Notre Dame’s ground game averages 171.0 yards per game, with a total of 1,197 rushing yards this year.

On the other hand, USC had to go through three overtimes to defeat Arizona and improve to 6-0. The Trojans currently rank as overall No. 81 in the nation in terms of points allowed by their opponents, giving up an average of 27.0 points per game.

USC is also permitting opposing teams to gain an average of 4.2 yards per rushing attempt, resulting in 157.0 rushing yards allowed per game this season. In total, they have given up 942 rushing yards in 6 games.

Thanks to Caleb Williams’ impressive performance, especially on a questionable two-point conversion play, the Trojans secured a 43-41 victory after trailing 17-0 in the first half.

While their defense once again struggled, allowing 506 total yards to the Wildcats, it managed to make a crucial stop in the third overtime to keep their hopes alive for the Pac-12 championship and National Championship.

How to Bet on the USC Trojans vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

When it comes to betting on college football betting sites, all bettors need to enhance their skills and understand the full betting process. This principle applies to all bettors and fans, regardless of their mastery and knowledge of the sport.

Once all bettors and fans set up their accounts on a top online sportsbook, it becomes imperative to engage in odds comparison. This entails evaluating odds from various online sportsbooks to optimize one’s potential winnings.

Analyzing all betting options is crucial as well. Bettors can only earn as big as their betting market allows them to. Making sure that sportsbooks offer moneylines, points spread and special bets is a must.

Another vital consideration is keeping yourself informed about betting trends. These trends can exert a significant influence on odds fluctuations. When a substantial number of bettors show a preference for one side, odds may adjust accordingly.

USC Trojans vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Odds

Remaining unbeaten comes with advantages. Still, the Trojans are now the underdogs against the Fighting Irish.

The fact that USC failed short of expectations in the past three weeks with a 0-3 ATS record has pushed experts to place the Trojans below the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame now leads with the spread currently in their favor at -2.5 and the moneyline at -142.

Indeed, USC hasn’t quite lived up to its reputation as a National Title contender this season, but as long as Caleb Williams is under center in the cardinal and gold, experts feel like USC can still put up a fight against Notre Dame.

Betting Tips for USC Trojans vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish  

In their all-time series, Notre Dame holds a 48-37-5 record against the USC Trojans. Their most recent matchup took place in 2022, with the Trojans winning by a score of 38 to 27.

Before placing a bet on the Trojans vs. Fighting Irish game, here are some trends to take into account: 

  • USC holds a 2-4 record against the spread (ATS) for this season.
  • Notre Dame has a 3-2-1 ATS record this season.
  • USC is entering a game as an underdog for the first time this season.
  • Out of the six games USC has played this season, five have gone OVER the total points.

USC Trojans vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Predictions

Notre Dame missed out on the playoffs and that is something the Fighting Irish must comeback from. Notre Dame’s full potential is yet to be seen and it seems as if experts are holding to what the Fighting Irish can accomplish even against an unbeaten Trojans lineup.

Notre Dame’s challenging schedule, including a recent game against Louisville, has left them in need of a boost. They anticipate facing USC’s weak defense, ranked 110 in tackling.

Notre Dame aims for a stronger ground game. USC’s toughest test is Notre Dame’s defense, and the Trojans might simply not have sufficient to hold pressure against Notre Dame.

The Fighting Irish remain as favorites and with the most potential to take a solid win.

Prediction: Notre Dame -2.5

Erik Gibbs

Erik is a dynamic and seasoned journalist with a passion for all things sports and sports betting. With a career spanning over two decades, he has become a prominent figure in the world of sports journalism, admired for his insightful analysis and engaging storytelling.