ND/USC line flying up, why?

[harold_bush]

A couple days ago Pinny had it at USC -7, now it is up to USC -9. That is a big damn jump, any injuries or something I need to now? I'm not a big ND guy, but USC hasn't overly impressed me. I also like the revenge factor after that unbelievable game last year.

[TMAC951]

I was wondering the same thing.. I go to this website and they give great write ups and predict the scores.. They have been pretty good the past 2 weeks.. Here is what they are saying about this game..

(6) Notre Dame (10-1) at (3) U-S-C (9-1)



Saturday, November 25th - 8:00 p.m. (et)
The Sports Network

By Scott Haynes, College Football Senior Editor

GAME NOTES: A top-10 matchup takes place in Los Angeles this weekend, as sixth-ranked Notre Dame attempts to close out the regular season in spectacular fashion, as the Fighting Irish do battle with third-ranked USC from the Coliseum. Charlie Weis' Irish are 10-1 on the season and have their sights set on a BCS Bowl bid, something they can all but assure themselves of with a victory this weekend. ND has won eight straight games coming into this matchup and is coming off last week's 41-9 rout of Army. Pete Carroll's Trojans also come into this game with a great deal of momentum and have their sights a bit higher, with a possible BCS championship game appearance hanging in the balance. The Trojans captured at least a Rose Bowl berth and a share of their fifth straight Pac-10 title with last week's 23-9 win over California. The win was the third in a row for USC, which moved to 9-1 on the season and 7-1 in-conference. This longstanding rivalry dates back to 1926. Notre Dame leads 42-30-5, but the Trojans have won the last four meetings, including last year's memorable clash in South Bend, with USC posting an improbable 34-31 victory in the waning moments of the game.

In a rare outing, Notre Dame rushed for more yards (221) than its passed for (218), as the Irish blew past the Cadets last weekend. That isn't to say that All-American QB Brady Quinn didn't have a good game. He completed 22-of-30 passes on the afternoon, for 218 yards with three TDs and one interception. The game however, belonged to tailback Darius Walker, who erupted for 162 yards and two TDs. This is not the offensive juggernaut that terrorized defenses in 2005, but the 2006 Notre Dame offense isn't far off the pace. The team is averaging 33.2 ppg this season, on nearly 400 yards of total offense (397.5). Quinn has arguably asserted himself as the top QB in the country, although some mediocre performances have probably cost him the Heisman. On the year, Quinn has completed 65.2 percent of his passes, for 3,004 yards with 32 TDs and just five interceptions. He once again has several outlets in the vertical game, with wideouts Jeff Samardzija (64 receptions, for 879 yards and 10 TDs) and Rhema McKnight (58 receptions, for 776 yards and 14 TDs), Walker (53 receptions, for 361 yards and one TD) coming out of the backfield and tight end John Carlson (46 receptions, for 621 yards and four TDs) representing one of the best tight ends in the nation. Carlson missed the Army game due to injury, but should suit up for this contest. Walker has blossomed as a complete back this year and has rushed for 1,083 yards and seven TDs in addition to his fine numbers as a receiver.

Notre Dame put forth one of its best defensive performances last week, holding Army to a mere 150 yards of total offense. That number will surely increase this week against USC, but Notre Dame has the potential to have a solid outing in the Coliseum. On the year, the team is limiting foes to just 20.5 ppg, while yielding just 312.9 yards of total offense. Middle linebacker Maurice Crum has once again taken over the team-lead in terms of tackles with 83 stops. He has also recorded 9.5 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble. Safeties Chinedum Ndukwe (82 tackles, 3.0 TFLs, 1.0 sacks and two INTs) and Tom Zbikowski (64 tackles, one fumble recovery for a TD) are both hard-hitters that opposing offensive players must look out for. Up front, it is veterans like Derek Landri (62 tackles, team-high 15.0 TFLs, 7.0 sacks) and Victor Abiamiri (42 tackles, 14.5 TFLs, 10.0 sacks), who sees double teams on a regular basis.

It was a pair of fourth quarter TD passes from QB John David Booty which earned the Trojans their Pac-10 record fifth consecutive league title. Booty has played better than expected in replacing Heisman winner Matt Leinart under center, completing 62.3 percent of his passes, for 2,417 yards and 22 TDs. Of course he was helped in the maturation process by perhaps the nation's most talented receiving duo in Steve Smith (55 receptions, for 874 yards and eight TDs) and Dwayne Jarrett (48 catches, for 610 yards and seven scores). The ground game certainly misses Heisman winner Reggie Bush and LenDale White, but tailbacks Chauncey Washington (703 yards and eight TDs) and Emmanuel Moody (459 yards and two TDs) have been more than serviceable.

The defense for USC has played well over the course of the year and is holding foes to a meager 288.6 yards of total offense. The team has done a nice job against both the run (92.1 ypg) and the pass (196.5 ypg) and is coming off a game in which it held the explosive Golden Bears to a season- low 295 yards of total offense with three turnovers. Still, with just 23 sacks on the season, the team will need to find a way to pressure Quinn this weekend, if the Trojans are to make a trip to Glendale for the national title game. Linebackers Keith Rivers (team-high 67 tackles, 5.5 TFls, 2.0 sacks) and Rey Maualuga (66 tackles, 6.0 TFLs, 1.0 sack) lead the way in the middle of the field. Safeties Kevin Ellison (52 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and Taylor Mays (48 tackles, three INTs) highlight the play in the secondary, while rush end Lawrence Jackson (35 tackles) has made the most big plays up front, leading the team in both TFLs (9.0) and sacks (4.0).

The Irish certainly have the offensive weapons to win in the Coliseum, but the Trojans simply don't lose at home, having won 32 straight on their own field. The Trojans should be able to make enough plays on both sides of the football to get the win and inch closer to the national title game.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: USC 31, Notre Dame 27

[harold_bush]

Yeah, that is what I was kind of thinking. A high scoring game with the team with the ball last having a chance to win the game.

[VegasLefty]

Linesmakers now know that USC needs a blowout over ND to have a claim at BCS title game. I still think Mich holds on regardless since MIch loss was to OSU and USC loss was to a shaky OREG st team.

[john lennon]

The perception is that Notre Dames lack of defense is going to be their undoing. If they put an extra defensive back in USC will run the ball right at them. This is the main reason why alot of people are on USC. However Notre Dame has an offense that could score enough points to cover this game or with a couple of turnovers could even win the game outright. I think USC will score all they want in this game, but there are better games on the board to bet on. I will watch