USC Football: Staff predictions vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The USC Football-Notre Dame Football rivalry is reignited on Saturday as USC looks to upset the Fighting Irish to avoid three-straight losses.

The USC Football team’s rivalry with Notre Dame is one of the greatest in college football. It is even better when both teams are near the top of the college football rankings and are playing for potential National Championship implications.

That is not the case this year. Notre Dame is the ninth-ranked team in the country but is on the outside looking in after losing to third-ranked Georgia. Meanwhile, the Trojans have been taking off the rankings after their loss to Washington two weeks ago.

The Fighting Irish have won the last two matchups against the Trojans as USC is looking to avoid losing three in a row for the first time since 1999-2001. USC is 3-6 against the Fighting Irish this decade, although three of Notre Dame’s wins were vacated.

The USC Football team is definitely going to get up and play this game with a bit more focus than previous games, looking to upset Notre Dame. Here is how the LA Sports Hub staff sees it going down.

Jamaal Artis (6-5): 35-20, Notre Dame

The USC Trojans had a week off preventing another loss this season. Coming out of the bye the Trojans got good news as quarterback Kedon Slovis was cleared to play and will start this weekend.

Slovis gets to face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in South Bend. Slovis may be fresh and rested, the Irish won’t have a lot of game tape to scout him and that will be an advantage.

Slovis might also be rusty and his rhythm could be off especially in a hostile environment like Notre Dame Stadium.

Hil Lopez (4-6): 27-19, Notre Dame

Usc is coming off a 28-14 road loss to Washington and will be desperate for a win against Notre Dame. However, regardless of who starts at quarterback, they will be no match for Ian Book
And Notre Dames’ underrated defense

Redan Lopez (5-6): 30-24, Notre Dame

I just don’t see the USC football team beating the ninth-ranked Fighting Irish.

The Irish are on a quest to get to the top 4 to make the playoffs and a good Trojans team is not going to stop them. Add that USC is on the road and the Trojans will be fighting to mount any offense at all.

I am generously giving them 20 points, many of which will be scored at the end of the game.

Jason Reed (6-5): 40-20, Notre Dame

I do not think this game is going to be close at all. USC has two impressive wins over then-ranked opponents in Stanford and Utah State but they had the benefit of being at home for both.

They were thoroughly defeated by then-ranked Washington when they had their first ranked road challenge and we are going to see more of the same in this game.

Notre Dame is a much better team than Washington and whichever way you spin it, I simply cannot see USC even coming close to victory in hostile territory.