- USC (6-5) hosts No. 5 Notre Dame (10-1) in one of college football’s most historic rivalries Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
- Notre Dame is a touchdown favorite and has won seven in a row against the spread.
- Check out our full preview for Notre Dame vs USC, including your guide to the best odds, special tips and prediction.
Notre Dame (10-1, 9-2 ATS) can lock up a spot in the 12-team college football playoff with a win on the road over USC (6-5, 7-4 ATS) Saturday.
The Fighting Irish have just one loss – a stunner to Northern Illinois – but face the same scrutiny, as always, having played a schedule without many contenders.
USC switched quarterbacks two weeks ago, going with sophomore Jayden Maiava and have won two in a row to become bowl-eligible.
So are the Irish legit or are their national title dreams about to end in sunny LA? We’ve got your look at the game, a prediction and insights for you to make your decision.
Notre Dame vs USC odds
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame | -7.5 (-110) | -303 | O 52.5 (-110) |
| USC | +7.5 (-110) | +240 | U 52.5 (-110) |
Odds as of 3 p.m. ET November 29 at Caesars Sportsbook. Be sure to check out this and our other top Caesars Sportsbook promos before making a bet on any Week 14 CFB matchup.
The Irish have been a touchdown favorites since the line was posted. Notre Dame has been favorites in each of their last 10 games, and won seven in a row against the number. That’s notable.
USC is 3-2 against the spread in their last five games.
The total is 51.5 across the board. Notre Dame is 6-5 over/under this season, with five of their last seven games going over. USC is 5-6 over/under and their last three games have hit the under (Maiava has been good, but not great).
Notre Dame has won five of the last six meetings and the favorite has won the last three games in the series straight up. Three of the last five meetings have gone under.
BetMGM has the best Notre Dame moneyline odds at -275. FanDuel has USC +240 on the moneyline.
We love Love 🫶 #GoIrish☘️ | @JeremiyahLove pic.twitter.com/z240vvacvS
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) November 24, 2024
Get Your Irish Up
Notre Dame has won nine in a row since the loss to Northern Illinois. The defense ranks No. 2 in the nation in points allowed, the offense has three players with over 500 rushing yards, the offensive line is up for the Joe Moore award as the best in the country.
So why aren’t more people talking about the Irish?
It’s the schedule, but it’s not really Notre Dame’s fault. The Irish have beaten Stanford, Georgia Tech, Virginia and Florida State, and none of them are close to elite. Notre Dame’s best win is the season opener against Texas A&M and then… Army? So there’s still some doubt that Notre Dame is top 5 good.
Get Your Fight On
Maiava was a heralded transfer after his freshman season at UNLV when he threw for over 3,000 yards (and yes, he is related to The Rock). Trojans coach Lincoln Riley went with Miller Moss at QB to start the season and Moss was good, not great. The defense has really been USC’s issue this season.
Maiava has thrown for 259 and 221 yards in both wins. Trojans running back Woody Marks has run for 1100 yards and nine scores. USC, shockingly, doesn’t have a marquee wide receiver, but four guys have over 30 catches.
Defensively, USC has been better lately, but ranks 13th in the Big Ten against the run and the pass.
USC RB Woody Marks
2024 Season
⭐️ 192 ATT 1,100 YDS 9 TD
⭐️ 47 REC 321 YDS 0 TD⭐️ 82.9 PFF RUN GRADE
⭐️ 31 MTF
⭐️ 35 EXPLOSIVE RUNSOne of the best pass catching backs in this class.
— Kevin (@Daboys_22) November 27, 2024
Notre Dame vs USC Prediction
- Notre Dame -7.5 at FanDuel
- Under 52.5 at Caesars
Two things can both be true….Notre Dame may not be one of the best five teams in the nation, but they can still finish 11-1. The problem here is that USC isn’t vintage USC, so more luck for the Irish. The USC program seems to be struggling to find its identity under Riley.
Notre Dame is better than USC. They do have a top offensive line and that makes their offense run smooth. They’ll dominate up front over a flawed USC defense and win by a couple of scores.
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In a highly anticipated matchup in Week 14 of college football, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will face off against the USC Trojans. Both teams have had successful seasons thus far, with Notre Dame boasting a 10-1 record and USC sitting at 8-3.
The betting line for this game currently favors Notre Dame, with the Fighting Irish being listed as 7-point favorites. This line is reflective of Notre Dame’s strong performance throughout the season, including impressive wins over top-ranked teams such as Wisconsin and North Carolina. USC, on the other hand, has had a solid season but has struggled at times against tougher opponents.
In terms of prediction, many experts believe that Notre Dame will come out on top in this matchup. The Fighting Irish have a strong defense that has been able to shut down high-powered offenses, and their offense has been efficient and effective all season long. USC will need to bring their A-game if they hope to pull off an upset in this game.
As for a pick, it’s hard to go against Notre Dame in this matchup. The Fighting Irish have been one of the top teams in the country all season long and have proven themselves against tough competition. While USC is certainly capable of putting up a fight, Notre Dame’s overall talent and consistency make them the safer bet in this game.
Overall, the Notre Dame vs USC matchup in Week 14 of college football is sure to be an exciting and competitive game. With the betting line favoring Notre Dame and many experts predicting a victory for the Fighting Irish, it will be interesting to see how this game plays out on the field. Regardless of the outcome, fans can expect a thrilling contest between two talented teams.