USC at Notre Dame College Football Picks & Predictions 10/21/2017

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Notre Dame Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The USC Trojans head to Notre Dame Stadium to play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday, October 21, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Notre Dame as 3.5 point favorites. The total has been set at 58. The Trojans are 1-6-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 3-4-0. The Fighting Irish are 5-1-0 against the spread and their over/under mark is 4-2-0.

Valuable USC Trojans Betting Trends

The USC Trojans are 3-4-0 against the over/under

The USC Trojans are 1-6-0 against the spread

Important Notre Dame Fighting Irish Betting Trends

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are 4-2-0 against the over/under

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are 5-1-0 against the spread

Key USC Trojans Injuries

10/15/17 T Chuma Edoga Ankle "?" Saturday vs. Notre Dame
10/15/17 LS Damon Johnson Concussion "?" Saturday vs. Notre Dame
10/15/17 LB Hunter Echols Hip "?" Saturday vs. Notre Dame
10/15/17 DL Jacob Lichtenstein Back "?" Saturday vs. Notre Dame
10/15/17 T Nathan Smith Knee "?" Saturday vs. Notre Dame
10/15/17 RB Stephen Carr Foot "?" Saturday vs. Notre Dame
10/15/17 WR Jalen Greene Concussion "?" Saturday vs. Notre Dame
10/15/17 DB Jamel Cook Illness "?" Saturday vs. Notre Dame
10/15/17 DL Jay Tufele Back "?" Saturday vs. Notre Dame
10/10/17 DT Marlon Tuipulotu Back out for season
10/06/17 CB Greg Johnson Shoulder out for season
10/06/17 S Isaiah Pola-Mao Shoulder out for season
10/04/17 G Viane Talamaivao Pectoral out for season
10/04/17 CB Keyshawn Young Hamstring out for season
09/18/17 DE Porter Gustin Bicep out indefinitely
09/16/17 LB Tayler Katoa Knee out for season
09/12/17 PK Michael Brown Knee out for season
08/19/17 CB Jonathan Lockett Hip out for season

Key Notre Dame Fighting Irish Injuries

10/15/17 QB Brandon Wimbush Foot missed last game, probable Saturday vs. USC
10/15/17 RB Dexter Williams Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. USC
09/18/17 WR Freddy Canteen Shoulder out for season
09/14/17 DL Elijah Taylor Foot out indefinitely
09/06/17 S Alohi Gilman Eligibility out for season

Useful Offensive Statistics

The USC Trojans are 24th in the country in points scored with 241. They have run 519 plays this year for 3,339 yards, which ranks them 13th in Division 1 in total offense. The Trojans average 6.4 yards per play, which is 28th in the nation. As a team they have accumulated a total of 172 1st downs this season, ranking them 5th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground USC has run for 1,264 yards as a unit, which ranks 35th in college football. They've run 256 times, averaging 4.9 yards per rush as a unit. The Trojans have been penalized on offense 46 times for 447 yards so far this year, which has them 34th in the country in penalties. Sam Darnold has passed for 2,063 yards this year. He's completed 163 throws while attempting 260 passes for a completion percentage of 62.7%. His quarterback rating this season is 141.5. He averages 7.5 adjusted yards per throw and 7.9 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

USC is 69th in the country in points surrendered on defense with 166. They have given up a total of 2,698 yards on D, which is 90th in D-1. The Trojans are 59th in yards per play allowed with 5.4. Opponent offenses have completed 137 throws on 251 attempts against the USC Trojans defense this season, ranking them 110th and 123rd in the nation. The USC pass defense has also surrendered a total of 1,671 yards in the air, which is 108th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has given up 249 attempts for 1,027 yards this season, putting them in 69th place in the country against the run. The Trojans have had 48 penalties for 354 yards on defense this year. That places them 70th in college football.

Special Teams Stats

USC is 106th in the country in punt returns with 6. They've totaled 27 punt return yards and average 4.5 yards per return, which is 93rd in D-1. They have returned 16 kicks for 374 yards on special teams, which puts them 48th in kick return yardage. The Trojans average 23 yards per kick return and they are 11th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 3,740. The USC Trojans have tried 9 field goals this year and made 8, which is 54th in college football. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 89%. USC Trojans kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 31 for 31 this season. Their punters have accumulated 1,160 yards on 26 punts, averaging 45 yards per punt. That ranks them 21st in the NCAA in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Fighting Irish have run for 1,848 yards as a team, which ranks 7th in college football. They've run 268 times, averaging 6.9 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have been penalized on offense 38 times for 333 yards so far this season, which has them 66th in the country in penalties. They are 25th in the nation in points scored with 240. They have run 439 plays this season for 2,827 yards, which ranks them 116th in Division 1 in total offense. Notre Dame averages 6.4 yards per play, which is 27th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 132 1st downs this year, placing them 64th overall as an offensive unit. Brandon Wimbush averages 5.9 yards per pass attempt and 6.2 adjusted yards per throw. He has completed 69 passes on 132 attempts for a completion percentage of 52.3%. His quarterback rating this year is 114. He has thrown for 782 yards this season.

Defensive Statistics

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish rush defense has allowed 217 attempts for 807 yards this year, putting them in 37th place in D-1 against the run. Notre Dame has committed 52 penalties for 494 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 123rd in college football. They are 14th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 101. They have surrendered a total of 2,194 yards on D, which is 43rd in the country. The Fighting Irish are ranked 18th in yards per play allowed with 4.8. Opposing offenses have completed 129 passes on 237 attempts against the Notre Dame defense this season, placing them 93rd and 119th in Division 1. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish pass defense has also given up a total of 1,387 yards through the air, which is 67th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have attempted 10 field goals this season and made 7, which is 60th in D-1. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 70%. Notre Dame kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 31 for 31 this year. Their punters have totaled 1,436 yards on 32 punts, averaging 45 yards per punt. That places them 16th in Division 1 in punting average. Notre Dame is ranked 29th in the nation in punt returns with 13. They've accumulated 46 punt return yards and average 3.5 yards per return, which is 111th in college football. They have returned 14 kicks for 304 yards on special teams, ranking 86th in kick return yardage. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish average 22 yards per kick return and they are 50th in the country in all-purpose yards with 3,178.

Who will win tonight's Trojans/Fighting Irish college football game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Trojans +3.5

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald