Can Notre Dame beat USC? Predicting Marcus Freeman's team's chances against Lincoln Riley's USC

No. 5 Notre Dame and USC are preparing for their season finale, the Fighting Irish are coming off a dominant 49-14 victory against Army, while the Trojans are entering the game after a hard-fought 19-13 win over their crosstown rivals, UCLA.

Notre Dame is aiming for a spot in the College Football Playoff, while USC only recently became bowl-eligible. The game is set to kick off at 12:30 p.m. PT at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and it will be broadcast live nationally by CBS.

Can Notre Dame beat USC?

Yes, Notre Dame certainly has an edge, as they have been a strong force this season, especially with their ground game and stout defense. However, USC has improved defensively in recent games under first-year coordinator D’Anton Lynn.

The Irish’s secondary, despite injuries to key players like Benjamin Morrison, has continued to give strong performances the entire season. Notre Dame’s ability to disrupt USC’s passing game and capitalize on the Trojans' mistakes could be the key to victory.

USC’s offense, led by redshirt sophomore quarterback Jayden Maiava, has shown potential but has not been consistent this season and could struggle against Notre Dame’s defense, which ranks third nationally in yards allowed per play.

Who Is Favored to Win the Notre Dame vs. USC Game?

BetMGM’s prediction indicated Notre Dame with a spread of -7.5 as the favorite. The moneyline for Notre Dame is -250, reflecting an implied probability of 71.43%, while USC’s moneyline is +220, giving them a 31.25% chance of winning.

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Notre Dame is favored by 7.5 points. The total for the game is set at 51.5 points, with a moneyline of -260 for Notre Dame and +210 for USC.

How many National Championships does Notre Dame have?

Notre Dame has won 13 national championships since the program began, with nine championship titles bagged during the poll era. Under coach Frank Leahy, the program won four titles and two under Knute Rockne.

How many National Championships does USC Have?

USC’s football claimed 11 national championships since the inception of the program in 1888.

Its most recent memorable performances include the Heisman-winning season of Caleb Williams, who led the Trojans to a thrilling victory over Notre Dame in 2022.