Notre Dame Football: 3 bold predictions vs. USC in Week 8

Notre Dame football will head out of their bye week with a matchup against the 11th ranked USC Trojans. Here are three bold predictions.

Notre Dame vs. USC has been one of college football’s greatest rivalries since Knute Rockne began the tradition in 1926. Since then, the Irish and Trojans have played every year stemming back to 1946. With such tradition and history in hand, these matchups often seem to serve as classics from the very start.

While the Irish currently hold the series lead, USC has managed to close the gap with 11 wins over the last 15 meetings between the two programs. However, the Irish have stepped it up within this decade, winning four of the last seven contests. With both programs ranked so close to one another, Saturday’s game already has all the fixings of a possible classic.

While history is always nice, it will certainly be in the rearview as both teams take the field for this year’s battle. Neither squad will be too concerned with the happenings of teams prior due to the stakes of this game. With a loss all but eliminating playoff hopes for either squad, here are three bold predictions that might just come to pass as the Irish face the Trojans in South Bend.

3. The Irish rush for over 300 yards

Despite rushing for over 300 yards on four different occasions this season, doing so against the Trojans is no small task. USC hasn’t defended particularly well against the run up to this point, but we have already seen game flow play a significant role in Notre Dame’s rushing success. For example, the Irish fell under 200 yards against tougher competition in Michigan State and Georgia.

However, there is hope in the fact that USC’s defense has allowed almost 150 rushing yards per game up to this point. While that number doesn’t seem particularly generous, their competition has. Stanford and Western Michigan were tough, but games against the likes of Texas, Utah, Oregon State, and Cal padded the stats, not to mention the league’s worst rush attack in Wazzu.

Needless to say, a matchup against the Irish will be their toughest matchup to this point with the exception of Stanford. However, one of the most significant factors in Saturday’s rushing matchup will be the key injuries to USC’s front seven. As it stands right now, the Trojans have five defensive linemen and four linebackers either out or questionable for Saturday’s contest.

Josh Adams and Co. were able to take advantage of an injury-depleted North Carolina front a couple weeks back, exploding for 341 yards and three scores. Should injuries eat up USC from the onset of Saturday’s game, don’t be completely surprised if the Trojans suffer a similar fate.