Will Notre Dame escape an upset vs. USC? Bold predictions for the big game

On By Littum

Notre Dame (10-1) has everything ahead of it and a road trip to Los Angeles to face its biggest rival, USC (6-5).

USC may not have lived up to its expectations this season, but it’s still a test that doesn’t appear to be easy for the fifth-ranked Fighting Irish. Even this year, when Notre Dame has national championship hopes and USC is down, this trip tends to be a tough matchup.

Will that be the case Saturday afternoon at the Los Angeles Coliseum?

Here’s what Notre Dame on the Sports Illustrated staff sees happening as the Fighting Irish try to lock up their trip to the College Football Playoff and the near-certain home game that would come with it.

Notre Dame vs. USC Predictions: Jeff Feyerer

Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love runs against Arm

November 23, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiah Love (4) runs with the ball against the Army Black Knights in the first half at Yankee Stadium. / Danny Wild-Imagn Images

If Notre Dame hopes to maximize their potential seeding and guarantee a playoff berth, there’s no need to leave any doubt Saturday night in LA. Marcus Freeman has gotten a lot of play out of leaning on what was then a Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois as a warning about how fleeting a great season could be, but they need to play that tone for just one more week. The Trojans aren’t as bad as their record indicates. They are 2-5 in games decided by one score, which indicates a lot of bad luck, but they also haven’t played a defense like the Irish. On to the playoffs.

Game Prediction: Notre Dame 38, USC 17

Bold Prediction: Jeremiah Love completes perfect season of TDs in every game and gets 150 yards to go over the 1,000 yard mark for the season.

Notre Dame vs. USC Predictions: Nathan Erbach

Notre Dame cornerback Christian Gray against Florida State

Notre Dame cornerback Christian Gray (29) gets into position during an NCAA college football game against Florida State at Notre Dame Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in South Bend. / MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

I think it will be a battle at times but ultimately I think ND is playoff ready and will come out and show they are top 5 in the country if not better. USC will test the ND defense, but not enough to keep it close in the end. ND puts this away early in the 4th quarter.

Game Prediction: Notre Dame 34, USC 17

Bold Prediction: Christian Gray has his best game of the season and impacts the USC passing attack with multiple PBUs and a pick

Notre Dame vs. USC Predictions: Mason Plummer

Jadarian Price runs the ball for Notre Dame against Arm

November 23, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jadarian Price (24) carries the ball against the Army Black Knights in the first half at Yankee Stadium. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn images

Notre Dame is ROLLING and Freeman has the boys ready for this one. Notre Dame handles early pressure from USC (which is good for them) and beats USC.
Your favorite talking head might pick USC, but this guy isn’t.

Game Prediction: Notre Dame 38, USC 17

Bold prediction: Love and Price both go for 60+ yards and a touchdown. Irish rush for 200+ and win in the trenches all day long.

Notre Dame vs. USC Predictions: John Kennedy

Marcus Freeman screams with excitement during a Notre Dame football game

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates a turnover during an NCAA college football game against Virginia at Notre Dame Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in South Bend. / MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Irish are peaking at just the right time. USC has some great athletes and will make some plays, but over four quarters, Notre Dame will win the games on both lines. Notre Dame’s defense is on a mission and will lead the way and win the day for Notre Dame along with the legs of Jeremiah Love.

Game Prediction: Notre Dame 35, USC 20

Bold Prediction: A Notre Dame pick-six is ​​what creates the separation to make this one feel safe despite being played pretty close.

Notre Dame vs. USC Predictions: Nick Shepkowski

Riley Leonard and Jeremiah Love work the ball against Virgini

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (13) passes the ball to running back Jeremiah Love (4) during an NCAA college football game against Virginia at Notre Dame Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in South Bend. / MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Call if demons, call it emotional scar, call it what you will – I hate Notre Dame games at USC. Even the best Notre Dame teams in my lifetime have mostly struggled at USC, whether USC was playing for a title or playing to finish .500. I can see this one being hotly contested, but I like Notre Dame’s advantage in one key area: against USC’s defensive line. While I expect USC to have success running the ball, I have more faith in Notre Dame doing it for longer and getting away late.

Game Prediction: Notre Dame 31, USC 24

Bold prediction: Notre Dame falls by double digits at some point in this game before coming back to within a touchdown.

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