Preview: No.1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish versus USC Trojans

Prediction: Notre Dame 25 USC 20

The underrated Fighting Irish secondary features CB Bennett Jackson (4 interceptions) and S Matthias Farley (one interception). The Notre Dame pass defense is respectable at 24th in the nation allowing 195.6 yards per game in the air and .5 touchdowns. They will have their hands full with the best WR tandem in the nation in USC WRs Marquise Lee and Robert Woods, 

USC Offense 

4th year QB Matt Barkley and preseason Heisman-hopeful has underwhelmed and is now injured and unable to start for the second straight year against the Fighting Irish. This  has opened the door for the rookie QB Max Wittek. Hopefully he can play up to his braggadocio after guaranteeing a victory on ESPN radio. Or his teammates can thank him later for lthe Notre Dame locker room fodder. Wittek comes from a high pedigree being an Underarmour All-American who threw for 24 touchdowns and 2,252 yards as a senior in high school..

WR Marquise Lee is the real deal with an NCAA-best 1,605 yards,104 catches and 14 touchdowns. He is a Biletnikoff fand is generally recognized as the best receiver in the nation. Lee is complemented by the tremendous receiver Robert Woods (62 receptions, 721 yards, 10 touchdowns) who last year torched the Fighting Irish 119 yards and two touvhdowns in 2011. 

RB Curtis McNeal has steadily performed having rushed for at least 160 yards over the past two games. He shined last year against Irish racking up 118 yards. 

USC Defense

The Trojan defense ranks 59th in the country giving up 392.2 yards per game and 24.8 points. They, however, have allowed 40.3 points per game to teams ranked in the AP Top 25.

USC has a  fierce pass rush ranked fourth in the nation racking up a total of 42 sacks. Junior DE Morgan Breslin has accounted for 11.5 of the total, 4.5 coming from the last three games. The pass rush should keep Golson on his toes and force him out of the pocket.

Senior Safety T.J. McDonald anchors the Trojan backfield. This season McDonald has collected 84 tackles, 2 interceptions, and one sack. The Senior is expected to be a high draft pick in next year’s NFL Draft.

Prediction:  Notre Dame 25  USC 20 

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Nster.com