Notre Dame Football: 3 bold predictions vs. USC in Week 13
By Jacob Wilson
3. USC averages under two yards per carry
The Trojans have been averaging under 140 rushing yards per game in the midst of what has been a forgettable season under head coach Clay Helton. With teams like Washington State, Oregon, Utah, and Arizona averaging over 30 points per game, USC finds itself near the bottom of the Pac-12, averaging under 27 points per contest.
As you can see, an underwhelming run game has played a significant role in the unimpressive nature of this offense. Considering quarterback JT Daniels has thrown only 13 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, it’s understandable that a commitment to the run game would be nearly impossible to maintain.
What makes this problem even worse is that the Trojans will be facing off against a Notre Dame defense that has prided itself on its ability to stop the run and create turnovers. Based on USC’s struggles so far, look for this to be a huge road block for the Trojans as they attempt an improbable upset.
The combination of Jerry Tillery, Drue Tranquill, and Te’von Coney has been nearly impenetrable this season, limiting opponents to 3.7 yards per carry. Given the improvement of the Irish secondary from last season, defensive coordinator Clark Lea can afford to have his defense hone in on a run game that has flopped against opponents much worse than Notre Dame.