The No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, boasting a record of 10-1, aim to strengthen their position for a College Football Playoff spot as they face off against the USC Trojans (6-5, 4-5) this Saturday at United Airlines Field at the LA Memorial Coliseum, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET. The matchup will be broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.
Notre Dame comes into this game riding a nine-game winning streak, although they are about to encounter their toughest challenge since their season opener against Texas A&M. In contrast, USC has had a rocky start to its first year in the Big Ten but has shown signs of improvement in recent games, specifically with quarterback Jayden Maiava, a transfer from UNLV, leading the team. Notre Dame’s head coach, Marcus Freeman, has confirmed that linebackers Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and Bodie Kahoun will not play, and starting defensive tackle Howard Cross III is listed as questionable due to an ankle injury.
In betting terms, Notre Dame is favored by 7 points, with an over/under set at 53.5 points. The game’s viewing options include CBS for television and Paramount+ for online streaming, offering a promotional deal of $2.99/month for two months.
USC has managed to maintain a winning record at home despite an inconsistent season, covering the spread in three of their last four games. Quarterback Jayden Maiava has stood out recently, throwing four touchdown passes over the last two outings and leading the Trojans to a 28-20 victory against Nebraska in their most recent home game.
On the other hand, Notre Dame has been exceptional this season, recording 10 wins and excelling against the spread with a strong 9-1 record. They recently achieved a convincing victory over Army, covering a 14-point spread with a 49-14 outcome, showcasing their significant scoring ability.
Betting insights suggest that SportsLine’s projection model forecasts a total of 58 combined points for the matchup, alongside a recommended side of the spread that should come up successful over 60% of the time.
As the Fighting Irish continue to chase a playoff berth and the Trojans look to finish strong, Saturday’s game promises to be an exciting contest filled with momentum and potential playoff implications. Fans can look forward to a thrilling showdown as both teams fight to secure their objectives for the season.