Sc vs ND, SC -7.5

[ballsweat]

Have to say when the game first came out with SC -7 I was salivating. I still think there is considerable value for SC up until about 9-10.

My thoughts around the game are that since the 4th Quarter of the OSU game, SC has outscored OSU-Stanford-Oregon-Cal, by a total of 114-19. And yes they lost at OSU because like their' previous games, they were sleepwalking and got beat.

I firmly believe that until that second half SC was vastly overrated. That 4th quarter seemed to be an awakening. The offense has playing better, though the RB's are still banged up, and the defense is healthy and speedy.

Jarrett and Smith are also healthy. I believe the weakness of ND is there lack of speed in the secondary. SC has started to open up the offense a little more week by week and seem primed for a little more offense against a non stellar defense.

As for ND, they seem to be able to pass on anyone. But when they cannot run Walker they seem to have some issues. SC's strength is defending the run. If they stop Walker, and I believe they will, SC will force Quinn to throw a great deal. Some of these will be forced throws and could lead to turnovers.

In looking at the Coaches I give the advantage to SC based on Carroll's experience. Weis is quite innovative, but it is hard to slow down a team that is quite faster.

Prediction: SC 33-21

I am curious to everyone's thoughts on this game.

And as usual, let's try to stay away from the garbage and try to analyze this game as ND vs SC.

Fight On

 

[tulah]

I like S.C to win by 10. The homefield will be big.
S.C Def. is clicking & playing very well as a team.

what I'm afraid of is B.Quinn. He has looked great
coming down the stretch.

7.5 seems generous , IMO the books are beggin for N.D $$$... But what do I know?

 

[babyjack]

I watched a lot of both of these teams this year and think it's gonna be a great game again. Although it would be hard to believe that it could be better than last year's classic.

That said, I think Notre Dame has an excellent chance of defeating SC this year. I agree that SC has more team speed but I believe ND will be the better prepared team in this game as they have had a lot of time to focus on this game unlike SC who has had some tough competition lately.

I truly believe a college team only has a few games each season where they perform to the best of their ability. Unfortunately for SC, they have had to "get up" emotionally for the past couple of weeks to defeat Oregon and especially Cal. The timing of this game is going to be SC's downfall.

This stretch of games for SC is sort of similar to ND's opening stretch of games where they were "up" for Georgia Tech and than again for their old independent rival Penn State. It's human nature for their to be an eventual letdown. Unfortunately for ND it came against a solid Michigan squad who had revenge on their mind for their loss to ND in the previous year.

Well guess who has revenge on their mind now? It's ND. This is their season. It's their only chance to make an impression on the voters who can't shake that butt-whipping they got against Michigan.

I think if these teams played 10 times this season, SC would win 7. But I think the timing of it plays in ND's favor as well as SC's inexperience as they play a ton of frosh and sophs. In big games where the teams are fairly even, I like going with the better QB. Leinart was the better QB last year but Quinn is the better QB this time around.

My prediction for this game is ND 34-24.

Fellas who have no bias...do yourselves a favor and take the 7.5pts. w/ the Irish. You'll be happy Sat. night you did.

 

[blgstocks]

BabyJack has a point - SC has been having to get up for games, to their credit they have. But a team can do that only so much without having a letdown. ND has been waiting for this game since last year. SC has been preppinig hardcore for the running qb in Dixion, then the 1 -2 combo of Cal Backs, now they will have to scramble a defensive plan to stop the best passing QB in cfootball right now. No easy task.

I agree SC offense has been clicking lately but nothing to brag about. Lets keep SC recent performance in context, they dropped 42-0 on one of the worst teams in football this year, easily the worst team in Pac - Stanford. So that doesnt even count. Then Ore shot themselves in the foot with a missed opportunity after missed opportunity. Then Cal held SC to 9 points for most of the game.

That being said, SC has played much better than I have exepected coming down the stretch. I think ND beats them straight up, but I also thought Ore/Cal would to. One thing I do know is that SC will have a terrible time trying to defend Quinn with his arsenal. And ND has had a lackluster defense against balanced teams all year. I look for both teams to score quite a bit in a great game.

 

[tulah]

I agree SC offense has been clicking lately but nothing to brag about. Lets keep SC recent performance in context, they dropped 42-0 on one of the worst teams in football this year, easily the worst team in Pac - Stanford. So that doesnt even count. Then Ore shot themselves in the foot with a missed opportunity after missed opportunity. Then Cal held SC to 9 points for most of the game.

I think playing good teams keeps you focused
& more prepared.

Have you gone over N.D's schedule the past month?

at Navy W 38-14 (lost st QB in the game)
North Carolina W 45-26
Sat, Nov 11 at Air Force W 39-17
Sat, Nov 18 Army W 41-9

very soft...

 

[CWood97]

Heart says ND, head says SC

 

[Marra]

I couldnt be more UNIMPRESSED with Notre Dame and the teams they have beaten.

The only way they win this game is about 3 turnovers (I.E. Michigan) and that still might not get the job done.

 

[Scott4USC]

That said, I think Notre Dame has an excellent chance of defeating SC this year. I agree that SC has more team speed but I believe ND will be the better prepared team in this game as they have had a lot of time to focus on this game unlike SC who has had some tough competition lately.

That is a big concern of mine as well. Weiss is quoted saying he has watched every snap of USC since they lost @South Bend. I heard Weiss on the radio and he knows EVERYTHING about USC. I was impressed.

USC will be pumped and ready. Highly doubt USC doesn't match same intensity as ND. USC @UCLA is a different story. That is the game where USC might come out FLAT because of too many consecutive emotional and tough games.

 

[AR182]

I think playing good teams keeps you focused
& more prepared.

Have you gone over N.D's schedule the past month?

at Navy W 38-14 (lost st QB in the game)
North Carolina W 45-26
Sat, Nov 11 at Air Force W 39-17
Sat, Nov 18 Army W 41-9

very soft...

i agree...last year i made a big bet on ohio st. because i thought nd's defense was slow...& i don't think that has been corrected... think usc wins by double digit.....

 

[StevieD]

This will be a great game. I like both teams and both coaches. That said I give the edge to Weiss. Not being greedy I like ND with the 7.5. It should be close. I am not sure that SC will be able to wear out ND and beat them up in the fourth quarter.

Good Luck to all and a Happy Thanksgiving.

 

[Scott4USC]

Ohio St. has speed at WR. USC does not. USC has height, experience and mismatch advantages at WR but not speed.

Jarret has average speed.
Smith has little above average speed.
Turner has little above average speed.

Nobody with scary speed. (like Ohio St.)

This somewhat helps ND defense.

USC speed burners are true freshman and they have not contributed this year!

At RB USC's only speed burner is Moody and he won't be playing. Washington and Gable have average/above average speed. Washington is banged up.

 

[Dice34]

Ohio St. has speed at WR. USC does not. USC has height, experience and mismatch advantages at WR but not speed.

Jarret has average speed.
Smith has little above average speed.
Turner has little above average speed.

Nobody with scary speed. (like Ohio St.)

This somewhat helps ND defense.

USC speed burners are true freshman and they have not contributed this year!

At RB USC's only speed burner is Moody and he won't be playing. Washington and Gable have average/above average speed. Washington is banged up.

why has PC not worked Hazelton and Patterson in more?.......I read early in the year that Travon was looking sick in practice taking7 yard slants to the house and pete was rubbing them out to him b/c he hasnt had this type of speedster since hes been there

 

[Scott4USC]

why has PC not worked Hazelton and Patterson in more?.......I read early in the year that Travon was looking sick in practice taking7 yard slants to the house and pete was rubbing them out to him b/c he hasnt had this type of speedster since hes been there

USC has just fallen short on bunch big time speed WR's. Ginn (OSU), Jackson (CAL), Harvin (FL) etc.

Last year USC recruited 2 big time speed WR's. Holland being the better of the 2 separated his shoulder and is redshirting. You are right Travon has looked good in practices but he has played very little. Prob. because USC has played so many tight games it does not give Travon the opportunity to shine in games. He has played but not been thrown the ball too much. Remember, he is only a freshman.

Imagine the USC offense with Desean Jackson? WOW! He committed and then decommitted last min. At least that is what he says.

 

[blgstocks]

I think playing good teams keeps you focused
& more prepared.

Have you gone over N.D's schedule the past month?

at Navy W 38-14 (lost st QB in the game)
North Carolina W 45-26
Sat, Nov 11 at Air Force W 39-17
Sat, Nov 18 Army W 41-9

very soft...

I agree that playing good teams keeps you focused,
but I would rather my team have 6 weeks of game speed scrimmage preparing for SC, than have to scrap together a new defensive attack for every opponent the last 3 weeks. SC might be sharp, but I have a hard time buying that they are more prepared than ND. I also don't think it is fair to compare OSU last year, to SC this year. I totally agree ND will have a hard time stopping SC, but I think SC will have equally hard time stopping ND.

 

[TouchdownJesus]

I wonder how the 2 teams' mindset will factor in. USC knows all they have to do is win.
Notre Dame wants to win convincingly....win by 2 TD's or more. That could easily backfire against a good team and help USC cover.

A lot of factors in this one. I think the biggest factor is revenge and Weis will throw everything he's got at USC, esp. from offense.

I think the last 3 games are what ND needed to begin with. Tune-up games to get Brady and Smarjdzia, etc. on the same page, etc.

Overall, I like ND +7, but thats also a heart play.
Bias aside, I love the OVER 56.

 

[TouchdownJesus]

Just to keep this post within reason, I'll give my prediction.

Notre Dame 63
USC 14

Should be an instant classic!

 

[pt1gard]

i got usc -3 from back when and was thinking about middling, but this game has a million scenarios ... usc hasnt played well IMHO in FH last 2 weeks ... oregon been waxed by wsu and zona, cal likewise by zona ... usc's off. has shown me very little, but their D is getting better ... ND has played complete garbage lately, and the fact their D isnt too swift it will be hard to mirror usc's speed ... i think USC wins by +7 but who knows ... usc only needs to get up one more time now, the ucla game has a bye ... anyhow, thats my 2 cents

 

[USCMD]

I think SC wins..........but the margin is anybodys guess. A bounce here or there a tipped ball. BUT USC WINS. REPEAT AFTER ME.....USC WINS.

I took the ml.

Remember ND has covered 1 game, not against the boys in uniform. SC has used 9 different tb, fb combinations. I think Carroll knew this year was all about surviving while the offense got it together. This teams heart and soul is its defense.

If I had to pick a score....SC 24-14

But consider the ml its around -250

 

[Scott4USC]

i got usc -3 from back when and was thinking about middling, but this game has a million scenarios ... usc hasnt played well IMHO in FH last 2 weeks ... oregon been waxed by wsu and zona, cal likewise by zona ... usc's off. has shown me very little, but their D is getting better ... ND has played complete garbage lately, and the fact their D isnt too swift it will be hard to mirror usc's speed ... i think USC wins by +7 but who knows ... usc only needs to get up one more time now, the ucla game has a bye ... anyhow, thats my 2 cents

Shutting out Stanford, holding Oregon to 10pts, and holding CAL "O" to 7pts in consecutive weeks is scary good! :scared What more could you ask of a defense? I wouldn't say USC D is "getting better." I would argue they are playing LIGHTS OUT! :scared

 

[Scott4USC]

I think SC wins..........but the margin is anybodys guess. A bounce here or there a tipped ball. BUT USC WINS. REPEAT AFTER ME.....USC WINS.

I took the ml.

Remember ND has covered 1 game, not against the boys in uniform. SC has used 9 different tb, fb combinations. I think Carroll knew this year was all about surviving while the offense got it together. This teams heart and soul is its defense.

If I had to pick a score....SC 24-14

But consider the ml its around -250

I am on the ML as well. Good luck to us! :toast: