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Notre Dame Football: 5 reasons the Irish will beat USC in Week 8

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - SEPTEMBER 23: Brandon Wimbush #7 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs for a touchdown during the first quarter of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on September 23, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - SEPTEMBER 23: Brandon Wimbush #7 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs for a touchdown during the first quarter of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on September 23, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 14: Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans escapes a sack by defensive end Nick Heninger #96 of the Utah Utes in the first half of the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 14, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 14: Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans escapes a sack by defensive end Nick Heninger #96 of the Utah Utes in the first half of the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 14, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

4. USC looks tired (no bye week), and Notre Dame is well-rested

There’s a lot to be said about a well-timed bye week. It’s often overlooked in college football, but getting a bye right in the middle of the season can work wonders for a team. Right now, Notre Dame is that team that got the perfect bye, right after Week 6 and before Week 8. Right in that sweep spot.

Unfortunately, USC has the opposite luck. The Trojans don’t get a bye during their 2017 season. Technically, they do, but it happens to be after their final game in Week 12. Right now, the Trojans just look tired, and it showed against Utah in Week 7.

The Irish are fresh off a bye and being well-rested heading into this game might cause for some problems for an exhausted — mentally and physically — USC team. Sam Darnold looked spent after the Utah win since he had to carry the offense and the defense looked fatigued as well.

Could Notre Dame take advantage of a tired USC team with no bye week in sight? My guess is yes, and that’ll be one of the contributing factors in the outcome of this one.

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