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USC Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2017

By Andrew Miller

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: Wide receiver Deontay Burnett #80 of the USC Trojans scores a 27-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: Wide receiver Deontay Burnett #80 of the USC Trojans scores a 27-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 26: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans looks to pass the ball in the first quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 26, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 26: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans looks to pass the ball in the first quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 26, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) /

One of the biggest rivalry games of the year for USC is finally here. The annual USC-Notre Dame game is the perfect chance for the Trojans to take out their frustrations of losing to the Utah Utes in overtime. For the time being, USC is out of the Playoff picture and needs to climb back into the Pac-12 title race.

After a two passing touchdown and one interception performance, Sam Darnold is starting to take some heat. His Heisman campaign took a huge hit and Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett is now the odds on favorite to take home the award.

Darnold comes out fast with three first half total touchdowns. With Ronald Jones II and junior rusher Dominic Davis each also tacking on a touchdown on the ground, USC takes a commanding 35-10 lead into halftime.

Notre Dame quarterback Brandon Wimbush has the Irish back on track after a rough 2016 season. Yet, Wimbush only manages two total touchdowns and turns the ball over twice. Notre Dame puts up only 17 points after a huge effort from the USC defense behind two turnovers from Iman Marshall and Cameron Smith.

Darnold puts up one more passing touchdown in the second half, getting himself back into the thick of the Heisman race with four total touchdowns against Notre Dame. One more field goal completes the huge victory for the Trojans in this rivalry game.

Final Score: USC 45, Notre Dame 17 (7-1, 4-1 Pac-12)

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