For the first time all season, the No. 11 ranked USC Trojans will take to the gridiron as underdogs. It’s a role that hasn’t treated the program well with it just 3-7 straight up and against the spread the last 10 times. The No. 13 ranked Notre Dame fighting Irish will attempt to add to the poor record when they return home to host the game in front of their rabid fan base. If you go only by history, that will likely occur with the home team winning and covering each of the last four meetings between these storied programs.
Watch this regular season Week 8 matchup live on Saturday, October 21, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. ET from Notre Dame Stadium. This game will be broadcast live on NBC.
College Football Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu
Trojans +3
Fighting Irish -3
O/U 61
Odds Analysis
BookMaker.eu linemakers have been hesitant to move the betting line for this too much even though nearly 70 percent of the handle is riding the home based Irish. Since opening -3, the line has since been bet up to -3.5 in favor of the home team. As explosive a team the Trojans will bring with them to South Bend, it’s hard to imagine this line heading even more north regardless of the betting public letting it be widely known which side they prefer in this matchup.
Both USC and Notre Dame bring respectable scoring defenses to the table. With that, it’s not surprising to see the total down a half point to 60.5 after opening at 61. The Trojans have allowed an average of just 25.0 points per game in its pair of road games, while Notre Dame allows an average of just 16.8 points per game overall ( No. 15 ). It wouldn’t be surprising to see this total trickle into the high 50s come kick-off.
Key Matchup
The aspect of this game that everybody will be gauging is how USC’s run defense handles the potent ground attack Notre Dame will bring with it to the gridiron on Saturday night. Led by dual threat quarterback David Wimbush, the Irish have rushed for an average of 308.0 yards per game with Josh Adams carrying a bulk of the load. USC checks in No. 51 versus the run in allowing 146.7 yards per game at 4.1 yards per carry ( No. 52 ). Not great, but not terrible either. The Trojans ability to stop the Irish on the ground and get the ball back in Sam Darnold’s hand will go a long way in deciding the outcome of this premiere matchup.
Player to Watch
Sam Darnold – The sophomore’s odds to win the Heisman Trophy have taken a hit over the last month with the youngster routinely turning the ball over, but he enters this tilt off taking a step in the right direction against Utah last week. The gunslinger went on to complete just over half his 50 passes for 358 yards and 3 touchdowns, but most important, he didn’t thrown an interception for the first time all season. With Notre Dame likely looking to its potent ground attack for the game’s entirety, it’s of utmost importance that he doesn’t give Notre Dame any extra possessions due to errant throws. A big game looks to be in store for Darnold through the air with him being the toughest field general the Irish has opposed to date.
Free ATS Pick
The Pac-12 has been marred in mediocrity all season, and because of it, the Trojans look to be the conference’s only hope of participating in the College Football Playoff. For that to actually have a remote shot of happening, this game in south Bend must be taken by the visitors. I get that the home team has dominated the proceedings of late, but streaks are meant to be broken. Notre Dame has already fallen once at home this season, albeit in a nail biter versus Georgia, but I’m simply not sold on Brian Kelly’s troops. They’ve taken advantage of an exceptionally weak schedule, and will be taken to task in front of a nationally televised audience in this one.
College Football Odds: Trojans 35, Fighting Irish 31
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