CFB Spotlight Game: #6 Usc @ #25 Notre Dame

[wayne1218]

Pick the Best Bet

[kbsooner21]

Give me the Golden Domers

[poskid]

Irish at home...

PK

[hokie99]

I like ND. Clausen finally becomes the Irish legend he was 'supposed' to when he showed up in that limo 3 years ago. ND 34-30.

[TMess]

Hope I'm not betting with my heart, but if ND can't win at home against a freshman QB then we will never win. I will take ND +10 ... they should win outright.

[wayne1218]

ESPN INSIDER

Scouts' Edge


USC offense vs. Notre Dame defense

• With Stafon Johnson sustaining a season-ending throat injury during the week leading up to the Cal game, Southern Cal needed another back to step up and Allen Bradford helped pick up the slack. Bradford showed excellent patience and made the most of his blocks while spelling starter Joe McKnight. The 235-pound back also keeps his feet driving after contact and drags would-be tacklers with him for extra yards. Look for Bradford to continue to make the most of the touches he gets in relief because the Trojans' offensive line is capable of creating seams working against Notre Dame's defensive front. Plus, the Fighting Irish have been inconsistent open-field tacklers.

• True freshman QB Matt Barkley has looked every bit of a first-year starter thus far, but his strong supporting cast will put him in position to have his strongest game since the season opener. Notre Dame's pass defense has been marred by soft coverage because CBs Robert Blanton and Darrin Walls are giving receivers too much of a cushion. Meanwhile, Barkley's favorite target, WR Damian Williams, has the burst to get open quickly when the Fighting Irish don't slow him down at the line of scrimmage and he is dangerous after the catch. In addition, all-conference C Kris O'Dowd anchors a cohesive offensive line that's capable of picking up defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta's zone blitzes, despite the hostile environment.

• One of the ways Tenuta has tried to give his pass rush a boost, without making the coverage more vulnerable to giving up the big play, is lining up SLB Darius Fleming and/or WLB Mantei Te'o at defensive end in certain situations. It's a sound strategy considering their initial burst and closing speed give most offensive tackles problems, but LT Charles Brown and RT Tyron Smith are exceptions to the rule. They are quick enough to prevent Fleming and/or Te'o from turning the corner and agile enough to counter any double moves.

Key individual matchup

Notre Dame TE Kyle Rudolph
vs.
USC S Taylor Mays

Rudolph spends the majority of his time lining up in-line, but coach Charlie Weis will also flex him out in the slot at times and even split him out wide on occasion. Rudolph is stronger than his frame would indicate, and he is an effective run blocker. He's also emerging as one of the most reliable pass-catchers in the nation. Most teams struggle to contain Rudolph in the passing game because he's quick enough to exploit man-to-man coverage versus linebackers and too big for defensive backs to compete with him for the jump ball. Mays is a unique physical specimen, though. He has the rare combination of size and speed necessary to keep step-for-step with Rudolph and then go up and defend the ball in the air. While he might not spend much time matched up versus Rudolph, we do expect Mays to limit the tight end's production in the passing game.

Notre Dame offense vs. USC defense

• RB Armando Allen runs hard and fights for yards after contact, but he's at his best making plays in space, so he doesn't match up well with the Trojans' run defense that has superior team speed and athletes. However, 234-pound backup Robert Hughes is at his best running between the tackles, where the Trojans are far more vulnerable. Notre Dame's interior offensive line, led by C Eric Olsen, is capable of holding its own working against DTs Christian Tupou and Jurrell Casey, and getting a body on 250-pound MLB Chris Galippo. Plus, 225-pound RB/FB James Aldridge, another physical inside runner, is expected to return from a shoulder injury.

• Explosive situational pass-rusher Nick Perry is questionable with a knee injury, but Southern Cal should have some success applying pressure off the edge even if he can't play. For starters, DE Everson Griffen is a powerful pass-rusher who uses his hands vey well and his ability to line up on both sides of the ball makes it harder to adjust the protection to account for him. While RT Sam Young should fare better than LT Paul Duncan, Griffen's blend of initial quickness, powerful upper body and tenacity should give both tackles some problems. In addition, Southern Cal can bring SLB Michael Morgan, who has excellent closing speed off the edge, and DE Armond Armstead could return from a broken foot that has kept him on the sidelines thus far.

• It won't matter how much pressure the Trojans apply off the edge if Tupou, Casey and the rest of Southern Cal's interior pass-rushers get caught out of their rushing lanes. While Jimmy Clausen isn't the most mobile quarterback, when he is healthy (and he is dealing with a turf toe injury), he's does a good job of stepping up in the pocket and keeping his eyes downfield when he senses pressure coming off the edge. In addition, his receivers have seen his improved ability to buy time in the pocket and don't give up when they aren't able to get open initially. In particular, WR Golden Tate has done a nice job of working back toward Clausen and flowing with him when the protection starts to break down.

Scouts' Edge

Don't expect Clausen to turn in another mediocre performance against Southern Cal this week. He is showing great command of the offense and he's had an extra week to prepare for the Trojans. However, Notre Dame will lose to Southern Cal for the eighth consecutive time and the reason is the Fighting Irish defense hasn't made the same kinds of strides as the offense. The Trojans will continue to run the ball effectively, which will keep their talented defense well rested and take pressure off Barkley. While Barkley will understandably continue to make poor decisions at times, he'll also provide the occasional big play working against a Notre Dame pass defense that lacks the athletes to match up and has been blemished by poor positioning.

Prediction: Trojans 28, Fighting Irish 20

[FB Coach13]

If i had to pick id say the Irish will cover. USC is down a bit from what they usually are, and ND is playing well. At least this game should be competitive compared to the last couple these 2 have played against each other. At least im hoping for a good game, acouple buddies and myself just scored some tix to the game on Sat. We got them from a season tix holder and only had to pay face value. Prediction 27-24 Irish

[DAREALDEAL]

i think this is a very close game....usc better watch out because this is the biggest game of the year....wait ever.. for weiss and claussen.....

[moondog22]

No contest USC

[musclemann]

when the hell has weiss ever won a big game like this?

I would love to bet n.d and take 10 points as a gift, but weiss is the worst coach in college.

usc easy

[SteinDallas]

Usc bigggggg