The No. 20 USC Trojans (5-1) travel to South Bend to take on the No. 13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-2) in a top-25 matchup under the lights at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
USC is coming off a huge 31-13 home win over then-No. 15 Michigan, highlighted by freshman walk-on King Miller who took over the backfield for injured RB1 Waymond Jordan. Miller ran for 158 yards and a TD and QB Jayden Maiava passing for 265 yards and two scores.
Notre Dame rebounded with a 36-7 win over NC State, led by C.J. Carr’s 342 passing yards and Jeremiyah Love’s 86 yards and 2 rush TDs.
Below, we’ll break down our USC vs. Notre Dame prediction and top picks on PrizePicks for this high-profile rivalry game in South Bend, Ind. tonight.
The Trojans are powered by the most dangerous offensive attack in the country — 1st in FBS in total yards per game (552.3) — while Notre Dame ranks 12th in FBS with 468.3 yards per game. Both teams feature explosive playmakers in the passing and rushing game, setting up a high-stakes clash in South Bend.
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USC vs. Notre Dame Prediction, Preview for Week 8
Here’s a full look inside the #20 USC vs. #13 Notre Dame prediction, with detailed previews for both teams.
USC has not won in Notre Dame Stadium since 2011 — a 31-17 victory with Matt Barkley and Robert Woods leading the way. The Trojans have also won one of the last seven games vs. Notre Dame overall, with each of its last three losses coming by 2+ possessions.
One thing to note that will affect both teams is the weather, with storms in the forecast on Saturday night. That could affect how both offenses are able to move the ball, so keep an eye on the forecast leading up to the game.
USC Preview vs. Notre Dame
QB Jayden Maiava has led the Trojans’ aerial attack, passing for 1,852 yards, 13 TDs with a stellar 71.9% completion rate. He's No. 2 in the country on expected points added (EPA) per dropback at 0.60.
The USC receiving corps features Makai Lemon, who is 8th in the country with 44 receptions and second in yardage 682. Lemon’s 92.0 PFF grade is the highest among WRs in college football.
On the ground, Miller impressed vs. Michigan, but it’ll be interesting to see if he can repeat that showing against a Notre Dame unit allowing 105.7 rushing yards per contest (23rd-lowest in the country).
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Notre Dame Preview vs. USC
Notre Dame QB C.J. Carr has thrown for 1,622 yards and 13 TD with three INTs on a 66.5% completion rate. Carr has averaged 10.5 yards per attempt, and Notre Dame ranks 15th in adjusted EPA per pass. It may not be on the same level or upside as USC's passing defense, but Carr has been a revelation for the Irish passing offense.
On the ground, RB Jeremiyah Love has 530 rushing yards and 8 TDs on 100 carries, averaging 5.3 yards per carry and 3.6 yards after contact per attempt. He’s forced 26 missed tackles.
Defensively, Notre Dame ranks 69th in defensive success rate (40.7). The Irish also boast an 10th-best turnover margin (+1.0), which could be pivotal in a close matchup like the one they could be staring down on Saturday.
USC vs. Notre Dame Picks for PrizePicks Today, October 18
This top-25 showdown between USC vs. Notre Dame gives us plenty of potential PrizePicks college football picks based on usage, efficiency, and matchup data.
USC WR Makai Lemon vs. Notre Dame Projection: 87.5 Receiving Yards
Makai Lemon caught 9 passes for 93 yards and a TD vs. Michigan. He ranks 2nd in yards after the catch (332) and faces a Notre Dame secondary allowing 7.1 yards per pass attempt.
He has been Maiava’s most reliable downfield weapon, catching 44 passes for 682 yards and 6 TDs this season. Lemon ranks 10th in the country in targets with 56, and 26 over his last two games.
With USC expected to mix quick throws and play-action, Lemon should be a key piece of that.
Notre Dame QB C.J. Carr vs. USC Projection: 285.5 Pass Yards
Carr has completed 66.5% of his passes for 1,622 yards and 13 TDs with only 3 INTs this season. He threw for 342 yards vs. NC State, including 2 TD passes, and has averaged 74.0 yards per attempt on throws between 10-20 yards, showing that his versatility through the air doesn’t stop from short distance.
USC’s secondary has allowed 7.8 passing yards per attempt, giving Carr opportunities to exploit matchups. Notre Dame’s offense relies heavily on tempo, converting 52.2% of third downs (20th), which could result in more possessions and passing volume.
With key running backs like Love drawing defensive attention, Carr should have open targets downfield.
Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love Projection: 94.5 Rush Yards
Love has cemented himself as the Fighting Irish’s primary ball-carrier, appearing on 243 of the team’s 407 offensive snaps this season, far ahead of backup Jadarian Price (133). He’s totaled 530 rushing yards on 100 carries, averaging 5.3 yards per attempt.
USC’s run defense is solid but not impenetrable — allowing 108.5 rushing yards per game (27th in FBS) — which gives Love a favorable matchup to exploit the middle of the field. He’s consistently seen 18-22 carries in recent games, including 86 yards on 18 attempts against NC State. Love is frequently involved on goal-line or short-yardage work.
If Notre Dame maintains pace and leans on their ground game, Love could once again become a vital piece of the offense in what's expected to be a high-scoring matchup.
Make USC vs. Notre Dame Picks on PrizePicks
This rivalry game boils down to whether USC can force Notre Dame out of rhythm or if the Irish can control tempo and protect their turnover margin. Notre Dame’s efficient offense and Love’s backfield threat could neutralize the Trojans’ explosive plays, while USC’s passing and RB depth need to strike to keep the Fighting Irish on their toes.
With PrizePicks, you can target key players like Lemon, Carr, or Love, picking More or Less on their stat projections to win real money. It’s time to lock in your CFB picks on PrizePicks
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