The No. 5 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-1) are set to strengthen their College Football Playoff credentials as they face off against the USC Trojans (6-5, 4-5) this Saturday. The game will take place at the iconic United Airlines Field at the LA Memorial Coliseum, starting at 3:30 p.m. ET, and it will be broadcast on CBS and available for streaming on Paramount+.
Notre Dame enters the matchup riding a nine-game winning streak and is poised to secure a CFP spot. However, they are on the brink of facing their most challenging opponent since their season opener against Texas A&M. On the other hand, the Trojans are adjusting to life in the Big Ten, having struggled early on this season but showing signs of improvement recently under the leadership of UNLV transfer Jayden Maiava.
In terms of player availability, Notre Dame’s head coach Marcus Freeman has confirmed that linebackers Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and Bodie Kahoun will not participate in this game. Defensive tackle Howard Cross III’s status remains uncertain due to an ankle injury.
The Fighting Irish are currently favored by 7 points, and the game’s total points over/under is set at 53.5. Betting insights from the SportsLine Projection Model highlight the impressive historical performance of this model, yielding significant profits for bettors on college spread picks throughout the season.
Fans can catch the game live on CBS, as well as on Paramount+, which offers a promotional subscription rate of $2.99 per month (for two months).
USC will aim to leverage its commendable home record of 4-1 and cover the spread. Under Maiava’s command, the Trojans have delivered solid performances, recently winning consecutive low-scoring games where he showcased his potential by throwing four touchdowns in total. Despite facing a formidable Notre Dame passing defense, the absence of cornerback Benjamin Morrison could give USC an advantage.
Conversely, Notre Dame has demonstrated consistent performance this season, boasting a 9-1-0 record against the spread. With a strong average margin of victory of 32.6 points, they recently demonstrated their prowess by defeating Army 49-14.
SportsLine’s model leans towards a high-scoring affair, projecting a total of 58 combined points during the matchup. It indicates a more than 60% likelihood for a specific side of the spread, providing further intrigue for bettors.
As anticipation builds for this crucial contest, fans are hopeful that both teams can deliver an exciting and competitive game, underscoring the resilience and talent present in college football today.