No. 13 Notre Dame (5-1) will host USC (3-3) on Saturday in a matchup of long-time rivals. The Fighting Irish avoided losing a second game by edging out Virginia Tech last week. They haven’t had a convincing win since September. They’ll host a Trojans team that lost to Utah but hasn’t lost back-to-back games in 2021.
Kickoff at Notre Dame Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Trojans as 7.5-point underdogs in its latest USC vs. Notre Dame odds, while the over-under for points scored is 59. Before making any Notre Dame vs. USC picks, you need to check out the college football predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,700 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It also enters Week 8 of the 2021 season on a 22-9 run on all top-rated college football side picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has locked in on Notre Dame vs. USC and just revealed its picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are the college football odds and trends for USC vs. Notre Dame:
- USC vs. Notre Dame spread: Notre Dame -7.5
- USC vs. Notre Dame over-under: 59 points
- USC vs. Notre Dame money line: Notre Dame -280, USC +230
- USC: The Trojans are 4-1 against the spread in their previous five road games
- ND: The Fighting Irish are 23-2 straight up in their last 25 home games
Featured Game | Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. USC Trojans
Why USC can cover
The Trojans haven’t lost in enemy territory in a while. USC is 2-0 in away games. It went undefeated on the road last season and has won eight away games in a row. If Notre Dame’s recent struggles persist, this could be a close game.
The Fighting Irish followed up their latest loss with a three-point victory against unranked Virginia Tech. They’re not confident that a single quarterback can get the job done, so Jack Coan and Tyler Buchner are spitting reps under center. If neither player can establish a rhythm, the Trojans have a chance to keep the game competitive, with Drake London leading the receiving corps. He’s tallied more than 100 receiving yards in five of his six games this year.
Why Notre Dame can cover
It’s not easy to beat the Fighting Irish at home. They’re riding a three-game winning streak against the Trojans. Two of those wins were by at least seven points. USC has had an up-and-down year, so facing a team that’s been consistent at home should be challenging.
London makes USC’s passing attack tough to contain. The star wideout has only gone under 100 receiving yards once this season. However, Notre Dame’s defense has racked up 10 interceptions and can make quarterbacks think twice. The Fighting Irish can cover if their secondary can take away the Trojans’ best weapon. USC lost by 14 to Stanford, the last time London was held under the century mark.
How to make Notre Dame vs. USC picks
The model says to go over the total. It also says one side of the spread hits 60 percent of the time. You can see which side to back at SportsLine.
So who wins USC vs. Notre Dame? And which side of the spread is hitting 60 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine right now to see which side of the spread to back, all from the advanced model on a 22-9 run on its top-rated college football side picks, and find out.
