USC Trojans vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish Game Preview and Prediction - 10/23/2021

Game Time: 7:30 pm ET, Saturday, October 23, 2021

Venue:  Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN

Where to Watch:  NBC

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  USC +3, ND -3; Over/Under:  58 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  USC +3, ND -3; Over/Under:  58 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  USC +3, ND -3; Over/Under:  58 points

 

USC Trojans:  3-3 (4th place, Pac-12 South)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish:  5-1 (1st place, FBS Independents)

 

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USC Trojans:  lost at home on Oct. 9 against the Utah Utes 42-26.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish:  won on the road on Oct. 9 against the Virginia Tech Hokies 32-29.

 

 

 

USC is coming into this game with a 3-3 record overall and they are 2-0 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They have put themselves in a very bad position with a 2-3 record in their conference games this season but they are getting a break here with this non-conference matchup. They have lost 2 of their last 3 games coming into this one, their last loss coming in their last game against Utah. Utah pretty much led that game from start to finish giving USC no chance to even make it a close game. Kedon Slovis played alright in that game as he completed 33/53 passes for 401 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. Keaontay Ingram led the team in rushing with 70 yards on 14 carries but their run game was not that strong in that one. Drake London had a very nice day as he led the receivers with 162 yards and 1 touchdown on 16 receptions while Gary Bryant Jr. also played well with 85 yards on 5 receptions. Kana'i Mauga led the defense with 8 solo tackles and 3 assisted ones in that game. Korey Foreman led the defense in sacks with 1.5 but no one on the defense was able to come away with an interception in that one. They have scored 193 points in their first 6 games averaging 32.2 PPG and they have allowed their opponents to score 164 points against them allowing 27.3 PPG. Their offense is averaging 448.2 YPG while their defense is allowing 382.2 YPG.

 

 

Notre Dame is coming into this game with a 5-1 record overall and they are 2-1 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They suffered their first loss of the season to the Cincinnati Bearcats but they followed that up with a win over VT in their last game getting back on track. That game was a back and forth one that Notre Dame had to fight in the whole time but eventually came away with the 3 point win over VT. Jack Coan played alright in that game as he completed 9/12 passes for 108 yards and 1 touchdown while Tyler Buchner struggled at the quarterback position completing 6/14 passes for 113 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Kyren Williams led the team in rushing with 81 yards and 1 touchdown on 19 carries. Kevin Austin led the receivers with 70 yards on 3 receptions while Avery Davis was right behind him with 64 yards and 1 touchdown on 3 receptions. Clarence Lewis led the defense with 6 solo tackles while JD Bertrand was right behind with 5 solo tackles and 5 assisted ones. Isaiah Foskey recorded the only sack for them in that game while TaRiq Bracy came away with the only interception. They have scored 186 points in their first 6 games averaging 31 PPG and they have allowed their opponents to score 146 points against them allowing 24.3 PPG. Their offense is averaging 366.7 YPG while their defense is allowing 360.7 YPG.

 

Notre Dame is coming into this game as a 3 point favorite with the current betting odds according to Draftkings Sportsbook. USC has not been having a good year working under their interim head coach after firing their head coach very early in the season. Notre Dame has a very good defense and has not been allowing many points in their games while their offense is starting to run more smoothly in their games. The best bet to place in this game is on Notre Dame to cover the spread here as they are the better team and are trending in the right direction this season while USC is moving the opposite way.

 

USC Notre Dame Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, October 23, 2021 (7:30 pm ET start time) is ND 35 USC 17.

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USC Trojans: 15-22 O/U as an underdog of 3.5 to 10 points. 157-177 O/U in all games. 38-43 O/U when the total is between 56.5 and 63. 33-38 O/U as an underdog. 21-28 O/U as a road underdog. 70-78 O/U in road games. 

Notre Dame Fighting Irish: 156-175 O/U in all games. 27-34 O/U when the total is between 56.5 and 63. 109-113 O/U as a favorite. 65-75 O/U as a home favorite. 79-88 O/U in home games. 28-39 O/U against Pac Twelve conference opponents.

 

 

USC Trojans:  M. Trigg (TE) Out Sat - Leg injury. S. Tuliaupupu (LB) Ques Sat - Knee injury. F. Martin II (OL) Ques Sat - Academics.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish:  M. Mayer (TE) Prob Sat - Undisclosed injury. M. Carmody (OL) Ques Sat - Ankle injury. T. Baker (OL) Ques Sat - Undisclosed injury.

 

 

USC Trojans: Drake London is one player to watch in this contest. He leads his team in receiving yards and in touchdowns scored this season. He is coming off of a massive game where he led the team in receiving and had over 150 yards as well. He is one of their biggest playmakers and they will need him to play well here to win this game so look for them to give him a lot of looks in this game as they did in their last game.

 

Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Kyren Williams is one player to watch here. He leads his team in rushing yards and in touchdowns scored this season. He is coming off of a game where he led the team in rushing but did not get over the 100 yard mark in that game. They will need to control the run game in this one so look for him to get a lot of touches in this one as they look to do that.

 

 

“Shoot, all their games they’ve played about three [quarterbacks] every game. You have to be prepared because all of those guys are different challenges.” - Donte Williams on one of the challenges of going up against Notre Dame.

 

 

"I've been in a lot of games, coached in a lot of games, but I don't know that I've ever coached a group of guys that had such resolve and mental toughness, that regardless of the situation, they just kept playing. Unfazed by the circumstances." - Brian Kelly on his team’s performance in their win over VT in a very close game.

 

 

 

WR London, Drake 

WR Tahj Washington

WR Trigg, Michael 

WR Gary Bryant Jr.

TE Krommenhoek, Erik 

QB Slovis, Kedon 

RB Ingram, Keaontay 

 

WR Austin Jr., Kevin 

WR Lenzy, Braden 

WR Davis, Avery 

TE Mayer, Michael 

QB Coan, Jack 

RB Williams, Kyren 

 

 

Passing: K. Slovis (1519)

Rushing: K. Ingram (419)

Receiving: D. London (832)

Touchdowns: D. London (5)

Sacks: D. Jackson (3)

Tackles: K. Mauga (23)

 

Passing: J. Coan (1208)

Rushing: K. Williams (363)

Receiving: M. Mayer (360)

Touchdowns: K. Williams (4)

Sacks: I. Foskey (5.5)

Tackles: J. Bertrand (37)

 

Coaches:

USC Trojans: Donte Williams (Interim)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Brian Kelly (12th season)

 

58 degrees F partly cloudy, 60% humidity, 0% chance of rain, up to 7 mph wind speeds W.