USC At Notre Dame Predictions

This night game, I believe, is setting up as a disaster for ND. First off we never play that well at night and usually start out completely flat.

The 2nd problem revolves around USC itself and recruits. This is evolving into a best case scenario for a very good team without a coach against a hated opponent. And Kelly usually plays this game “not to lose”. USC has better talent at almost every position.

Their current record is 3-2. Forget about their first 2 games, let’s look at the important 3 opponents:

• L Stanford 41-31. Cody Kessler 272 yds and 3 TD passes. USC had 427 total yards.
• W ASU 42-14. Kessler 379 yards and 5 TD’s
• L Washington 17-12. Kessler 5 sacks, 2 pics and 0 TD’s – an anomaly.

In 2014 the score was USC 49-14 over ND. Kessler had 372 yards and 6 TD’s. Now both teams have basically the same personnel and no one on ND can run with WR JuJu.

So ND cannot really cover with KeiVarae Russell (big disappointment), Cole Luke (mediocre), Shumate (so-so) and Redfield (hopelessly confused). Add to that no rush from our front four.

Sheldon Day is the only ND player that plays every down. Jaylon Smith – all hat and no horse.

Joe Schmidt is too slow and cannot get off blocks. The middle of the ND defense has been wide open and gashed by everyone.

Believe it or not USC has very good RB’s to exploit our center. What to do? Play Grace and Martini inside and somehow move Jaylon around whose sole purpose the entire game is to go after Kessler. Without a rush ND has no chance.

ND Offense: The OL needs a swift kick in the a–. Completely overrated and if Nelson is healthy I would play Bars at RG. That right side play is best exemplified by the 2pt play against Clemson. Both the RG and RT were completely blown up.

This is USC and while missing the HC Sark, they still have the OC whose been calling plays for several years. Also, they just lost their starting Center, but they just moved another OL over.

On Defense USC will load the box and jam the ND receivers. ND won’t be able to run and Kizer gets picked 2-3 times.

USC 38 Notre Dame 27