Most Anticipated Games of 2009: #24, USC at Notre Dame
by ibleedscarlet on Jun 16, 2009 12:15 AM EDT
in Football
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The Game of the Current Century
The Game: University of Southern California at Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana
The Date: Saturday, October 17th 2009 at 3:30 PM (national television coverage on NBC)
Why to Watch: First of all, to see a USC team that could very well be the #1 team in the country at this time, when if they win at Ohio State in the 2nd week of the season. I could see Notre Dame coming into this game ranked in the Top 25 at 4-1 or 3-2 (with games against Nevada, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, and Washington) marking the 1st time that these two teams have met as nationally ranked squads since 2005 (The Game of the Century: #1 USC vs. #9 ND). Notre Dame desperately needs a win signature victory over an elite squad to reinvigorate their program and their reputation, and what better way to do that than knocking off a Top 5 ranked Trojan squad.
And to see if the Notre Dame groundscrew actually cuts the grass this year before playing a speedy USC offense.
Check out the team previews and predictions after the jump....
History: In perhaps the greatest college football rivarly in history (maybe second to OSU-Michigan) Notre Dame leads the all-time series 42-33-5. But over the last 7 years USC is 7-0 against the Irish with a staggering winning margin of 27 points per game (average final score: 41-14). USC and Notre Dame combine to have the most National Championships, Heisman Award Winners, All-Americans, College Football Hall of Fame Members, and NFL Hall of Fame Members than any other collegiate football rivalry. The teams play each season for the Jeweled Shillelagh, which is taken home by the winning team.
The Breakdown: Year after year the Trojans lose most of their team to the NFL and everyone writes them off for dead. Then all they do is roll through and win the Pac-10 and challenge for the national championship. Things should be no different this season as 11 USC players were taken in the NFL draft, but the cupboard remains stocked with blue-chip talent. The loss of underclassman Mark Sanchez hit especially hard to USC fans this off-season but the Trojans will look to rebuild around sophomore QB Aaron Corp who looks to have a hold on the starting job entering summer camps. The USC offense works on all cylinders in big-time games (see: OSU, PSU last year) but tends to become stagnant in games that they should win easily (see: Oregon State, Arizona, Cal last season). Carroll needs to keep the pedal to the metal and not let this team fall into another loss to an inferior team that will end their title hopes. USC brings back all of last year's offensive linemen and should survive on the defensive side of the ball with the recruits stepping in to fill the shoes of the departed starts. The big question mark could be the kicker situation since last year's K David Buehrle was drafted in the 5th round by the Cowboys. Junior Jordan Congdon and sophomore Joe Houston will battle for place-kicking duties next year.
The seat is getting extremely warm for Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis after the early success that he found at Notre Dame has turned into mediocrity (or worse....losing at home to Syrause). Luckily for him, the talent for this team on paper is absolutely loaded. QB Jimmy Clausen returns for his Junior season after throwing for 3172 yards and 25 touchdowns (but with 17 INT's) last season. He'll lead an offense poised to explode with WR's Golden Tate and Michael Floyd (who combined for 17 TD's last season) and reliable TE Kyle Rudolph. The defense is stocked with talent along the defensive front 7 and will switch from a 3-4 to a 4-3. Don't be shocked to see top recruit LB Manti Te'o produce big results in his first year at South Bend. The secondary features SS Kyle McCarthy who registerd 110 tackles last season. If you watch any Irish games this season, prepare to hear his name quite a bit. Kicker Brandon Walker is back after going 14-24 last season on field goal attempts.
Fun Fact/Stats: Legend has it that the rivalry started as a converstion between the wives of USC's Athletic Director Gywnn Wilson and Notre Dame head coach Knute Rockne. Mrs. Wilson spoke with Mrs. Rockne at a game in Lincoln, Nebraska where ND and Nebraska were playing. Mrs. Wilson convinced Mrs. Rockne that a trip to beautiful and sunny California would be a good experience every 2 years, compared to the dismal, cold trip to Nebraska. Mrs. Rockne spoke with her husband and a rivalry was apparently born (there are sources that refute this, but it's fun nonetheless).
Prediction: 7 years it's been since the last time ND beat USC. 7 agonizing years of heartbreak and blowouts. But this year it will be different. At some point every great team falls and begins it's downward spiral back to Earth and I think that this is the game where USC loses it invincibility. With the home crowd willing them on, and Jimmy Clausen out-playing (and out-managing) the inexperienced Aaron Corp, Notre Dame pulls the shocker and returns itself to the upper-echelons of college football.
Notre Dame 24 University of Southern California 20
Game #23 coming tomorrow....
#25: Army vs. Navy
#24: USC vs. Notre Dame
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you serious?
SC dominates. Charlie can’t coach, as evidenced by him landing a ton of 5* players who consistently underachieve. Schiano is a better coach, if he was at ND he’d be leading them to 9+ win seasons and BCS games every year.
USC – 31, ND – 10
by anshey on Jun 16, 2009 10:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Charlie
Though I agree that Weis is completely overrated, I still think that the streak ends this year. All streaks come to an end (unless your clemson basketball @UNC).
by ibleedscarlet on Jun 16, 2009 11:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
just don’t see it happening this year. The irish go 6-6 and win a low tiered bowl game, and they are predicted to start the season in the top 25 by half the media? Based on what? 2 years of horribly underachieving?
While I agree that all streaks must come to an end, and I see your argument of why it could, I’m taking SC to dominate. Who knows though, that’s what makes college football so great – you could be right that the streak ends this year.
by anshey on Jun 16, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
USC, even though it has to replace a lot of talent, will dominate….
how is ND even winning in this poll? Must be a lot of domers who read this site
by pdas on Jun 16, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Poll
Guess everyone on the left coast is still asleep….
by ibleedscarlet on Jun 16, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ha, probably. Or they just know they’re better so they don’t care.
by anshey on Jun 16, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Last Year
. . . was an abortion of a game. I watched it in a room full of ND diehards and it was like sitting through a football snuff film (they’re popular these days). I believe ND had a total of 15 yards of offense after the first half, and less than 100 for the game.
ND will be much improved this year, and thanks to a much easier schedule they may even win 8-9 games . . . but this won’t be one of them. USC has a lot of rebuilding to do across the board, but I still think their defense (which is a perennial power) should do enough to keep ND at bay. If anything, they’ll have most of the kinks worked out by mid-October. Trojans 23-13.
by Kid Presentable on Jun 17, 2009 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Another very one-sided USC win
The only place Notre Dame has the advantage is at quarterback (admittedly a big one). But remember that USC is returning their entire offensive line with 4 running backs who EACH gained more than 600 yards last year. Think Woody Hayes and a cloud of dust. USC will average 6 yards per carry and will rush for over 300 yards even with 12 Irish players on the line of scrimmage. This will put great pressure on Notre Dame offensively (they won’t get the ball) and defensively (they won’t be able to stop it). In addition, it will take the heat off which of the quarterbacks (I can’t remember all their names) starts for USC and he will complete 12 of 15 passes for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns (with no interceptions). Even with the game being played at home, the Irish don’t have a chance. Look for a score of 45-14 with the hope that the following year will bring a new coach and new hope for the Irish.
by delowe on Jun 17, 2009 3:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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