ISD Game Predictions: USC

It’s Friday, and that means game prediction time once again for the ISD staff.  Rival USC rolls into South Bend undefeated and looking for a playoff spot, while the Irish desperately need a win.  Notre Dame has to find a way to shut down Heisman winner, Caleb Williams, but also figure out a way to kickstart their disappointing offense.  Which teams comes out on top on Saturday evening?

Mike Frank

Don’t ask me what to expect from this team.  Every time I think they’re going to rebound, they lay an egg.  When I think they’re going to struggle, they seem to find a way.  

Notre Dame can win this game.  USC has their issues on defense, and they can be exploited.  They also have some weaknesses along their offensive line, but I’m just not sure the Irish have the edge rushers to exploit those deficiencies enough to win.  

Marcus Freeman and Gerad Parker need a win here, but I just don’t see it happening.  With a number of receivers limping, and a struggling Irish offense, I just don’t see ND having the offensive firepower to outscore the Trojans.  It’s close, but just not enough.  

USC 35, Notre Dame 31

Greg Flammang

It feels crazy Notre Dame is favored coming into this game against an undefeated USC team with a healthy Caleb Williams available for the Trojans. Especially when you consider how Notre Dame looked last weekend against Louisville. However, after watching a good bit of USC over the last few weeks, it starts to make sense. 

Their defense is as bad as it’s ever been, their offensive line is worse than expected, and Williams is a notch below his standard from last season. When talking to people who cover their program, they do not have the feel of a great football team. Some of them are even picking Notre Dame to win. 

The path to victory is fairly straightforward; Notre Dame needs to be a more efficient version of the Ohio State game on offense, and find a way to turnover the Trojans on defense. The mission is not impossible. I just can’t pick it to happen. 

I’ve given Notre Dame the benefit of the doubt the last few times, and I haven’t gotten the level of play I expected. I do think they’ll play better than they have, but not good enough to win. 

USC 34, Notre Dame 30

Andrew Mentock

The Notre Dame defense plays well, and the offense produces enough big plays to keep the Irish in the game. 

But it ultimately comes down to a dual between quarterbacks, with Sam Hartman coming up short against the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Caleb Williams. Hartman throws for 330+ yards and a few touchdowns but continues to be loose with the ball and turns the ball over twice in key situations. 

USC 33, Notre Dame 27

Christian McCollum

The Irish offense comes out of the gates hot and looks like virtually every offense the Trojans' defense has faced so far this season. 

But in the second quarter, Notre Dame's offense sputters and is never really able to get back on track until it's too late. 

After looking as sharp as ever early, quarterback Sam Hartman loses his rhythm as Irish pass-catchers fail to create separation from the Trojan defensive backs. Once USC realizes it can play man-to-man without getting torched, its able to turn its attention to shutting down the Notre Dame rushing attack, which it does.

Without a consistent offensive attack, the Irish are really asking too much of their defense in trying to shut down USC quarterback Caleb Williams the way it was able to limit Riley Leonard and Kyle McCord in previous weeks.

USC 31, Notre Dame 21

Matt Freeman

Notre Dame needs to score points, and at this point, it's a major question mark. The weather forecast certainly seems to favor the Irish, but can Joe Rudolph's offensive line handle USC's big interior on the defensive line? Notre Dame got pressure on Caleb Williams last year, but couldn't finish. It's a redemption game for the offensive line from last week and the defense can redeem themselves from the slaughter in LA a year ago. 

Notre Dame 27, USC 24

Jamie Uyeyama 

Notre Dame's offense isn't as bad as it was against Louisville. That's not to say that there still aren't serious questions about that side of the ball, but this can be a bit of a get right week against a USC defense that is a little bit of boom and a lot of bust. 

I think we'll see the Irish go back to having success in the running game, clean up some of those execution issues, and hit a decent amount of explosives. 

Unfortunately, I think they will also turnover the football and giving away possessions to USC's offense is a recipe to lose, I think the Notre Dame defense will play well and do their best to contain Caleb Williams, but he's going to ultimately be the deciding factor in a tight ball game.

This flips if Notre Dame wins the turnover battle. I think it will be tight. 

USC 31, Notre Dame 27