Perry Perspective: NCAAF Feature, Oct 13
from BetWWTS
Irish to fight for another piece of history
For fans of the Fighting Irish, it just might be one of those days they will always remember where they were when ?it? happened.
And what would ?it? be?
?It? would be beating the back-to-back national champion USC Trojans, a team seen by many as one of the greatest in college football history.
?It? could happen this Saturday when Notre Dame hosts USC in South Bend in the most intriguing college football matchup of the season (3:30 p.m. ET, NBC).
The Irish head into the game ranked No. 9 in the nation with a 4-1 record both straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS). The Trojans, meanwhile, are ranked No. 1 with a 5-0 record SU (3-2 ATS).
The Trojans have won 27 straight games and have not lost since September 9, 2003. In fact, they have only lost one game in their past 39.
USC?s star-studded roster includes the likes of quarterback Matt Leinart, a leading candidate to repeat as Heisman Trophy winner, and running back Reggie Bush, also a top candidate for the award.
Not far behind those two is another running back, LenDale White, who is No. 10 in the nation in rushing yards after five games.
While the Trojans? offense is ranked No. 2 overall, a big part of its success can be attributed to the team?s dominant defense, which has produced 13 turnovers ? three fumble recoveries and 10 interceptions.
And those turnovers have frequently given the offense solid field position from which to rack up points.
So is there any reason to believe the Irish, arguably America?s favorite college football team, have a chance of derailing the USC dynasty, at least for a week?
You could say the odds are stacked against them. We currently have the Irish listed as an 11.5-point underdog in this contest. On the moneyline, Notre Dame is listed at a fat +400, with the Trojans as -500.
But there are reasons to believe the Irish might be able to pull off the unimaginable and beat mighty USC.
First of all, under new head coach Charlie Weis the Irish have proven they?re for real. They?ve beaten four big-name schools - Pittsburgh, Michigan, Washington and Purdue - all on the road.
And despite the fact that their only loss came at home (against No. 16 Michigan State), the Irish will have home-field advantage this weekend.
Offensively, Notre Dame has enjoyed success with the productive arm of quarterback Brady Quinn, who, like Leinart, is a candidate for the Heisman.
Quinn ranks No. 7 in the nation with 1,621 total passing yards in five games; only 25 fewer yards than Leinart. And with 13 TDs, Quinn actually leads Leinart, who has 12.
Quinn also has a reliable go-to guy on the ground in Darius Walker, who is averaging more than 100 rushing yards per game.
Notre Dame has also been solid on defense allowing 24 points per game, only a few more than USC, which is allowing 19.2.
In addition to using all the weapons at his disposal, Coach Weis will have to exploit the one crack in the Trojans? armor in order to pull of the upset on Saturday. That crack is first-half performance.
On two occasions this year, USC allowed teams to build early first-half leads.
In their third game of the season against then No. 24 Oregon, the Trojans trailed 13-10 at the half before blasting the Ducks in the second half en route to a 45-13 victory.
A week later against No. 14 Arizona St., USC fell behind 21-3 at the half, before scrambling to a 38-28 victory.
If the Irish can run up a lead in the first half, then bear down with flawless defense in the second half, they just might pull off the unthinkable and make history.
At the very least, they should be able to beat the spread.
The total for this matchup is 69, which will be the highest total of the season for the Irish. Both teams are 3-2 on the OVER/UNDER.
Other notable games:
No. 11 Florida vs. No. 10 LSU
In a SEC tilt, No. 11 Florida (5-1 SU, 2-3-1 ATS) visits No. 10 LSU (3-1 SU, 3-1 ATS) on Saturday afternoon (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS). LSU is currently listed as a 6-point favorite and the total is set at 47.5. Under new head coach Urban Meyer, the Gators are 1-5 on the OVER/UNDER this season.
No. 16 Michigan St. vs. No. 15 Ohio St.
Over in the Big Ten, No. 16 Michigan St. (4-1 SU, 3-2 ATS) takes on No. 15 Ohio St. (3-2 SU, 2-3 ATS) in an early Saturday game (12:00 p.m. ET, ABC). The Buckeyes are pegged as -6.5 favorites and the total is 53. Michigan St. is 4-1 on the OVER/UNDER this season.
BetWWTS
from BetWWTS
Irish to fight for another piece of history
For fans of the Fighting Irish, it just might be one of those days they will always remember where they were when ?it? happened.
And what would ?it? be?
?It? would be beating the back-to-back national champion USC Trojans, a team seen by many as one of the greatest in college football history.
?It? could happen this Saturday when Notre Dame hosts USC in South Bend in the most intriguing college football matchup of the season (3:30 p.m. ET, NBC).
The Irish head into the game ranked No. 9 in the nation with a 4-1 record both straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS). The Trojans, meanwhile, are ranked No. 1 with a 5-0 record SU (3-2 ATS).
The Trojans have won 27 straight games and have not lost since September 9, 2003. In fact, they have only lost one game in their past 39.
USC?s star-studded roster includes the likes of quarterback Matt Leinart, a leading candidate to repeat as Heisman Trophy winner, and running back Reggie Bush, also a top candidate for the award.
Not far behind those two is another running back, LenDale White, who is No. 10 in the nation in rushing yards after five games.
While the Trojans? offense is ranked No. 2 overall, a big part of its success can be attributed to the team?s dominant defense, which has produced 13 turnovers ? three fumble recoveries and 10 interceptions.
And those turnovers have frequently given the offense solid field position from which to rack up points.
So is there any reason to believe the Irish, arguably America?s favorite college football team, have a chance of derailing the USC dynasty, at least for a week?
You could say the odds are stacked against them. We currently have the Irish listed as an 11.5-point underdog in this contest. On the moneyline, Notre Dame is listed at a fat +400, with the Trojans as -500.
But there are reasons to believe the Irish might be able to pull off the unimaginable and beat mighty USC.
First of all, under new head coach Charlie Weis the Irish have proven they?re for real. They?ve beaten four big-name schools - Pittsburgh, Michigan, Washington and Purdue - all on the road.
And despite the fact that their only loss came at home (against No. 16 Michigan State), the Irish will have home-field advantage this weekend.
Offensively, Notre Dame has enjoyed success with the productive arm of quarterback Brady Quinn, who, like Leinart, is a candidate for the Heisman.
Quinn ranks No. 7 in the nation with 1,621 total passing yards in five games; only 25 fewer yards than Leinart. And with 13 TDs, Quinn actually leads Leinart, who has 12.
Quinn also has a reliable go-to guy on the ground in Darius Walker, who is averaging more than 100 rushing yards per game.
Notre Dame has also been solid on defense allowing 24 points per game, only a few more than USC, which is allowing 19.2.
In addition to using all the weapons at his disposal, Coach Weis will have to exploit the one crack in the Trojans? armor in order to pull of the upset on Saturday. That crack is first-half performance.
On two occasions this year, USC allowed teams to build early first-half leads.
In their third game of the season against then No. 24 Oregon, the Trojans trailed 13-10 at the half before blasting the Ducks in the second half en route to a 45-13 victory.
A week later against No. 14 Arizona St., USC fell behind 21-3 at the half, before scrambling to a 38-28 victory.
If the Irish can run up a lead in the first half, then bear down with flawless defense in the second half, they just might pull off the unthinkable and make history.
At the very least, they should be able to beat the spread.
The total for this matchup is 69, which will be the highest total of the season for the Irish. Both teams are 3-2 on the OVER/UNDER.
Other notable games:
No. 11 Florida vs. No. 10 LSU
In a SEC tilt, No. 11 Florida (5-1 SU, 2-3-1 ATS) visits No. 10 LSU (3-1 SU, 3-1 ATS) on Saturday afternoon (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS). LSU is currently listed as a 6-point favorite and the total is set at 47.5. Under new head coach Urban Meyer, the Gators are 1-5 on the OVER/UNDER this season.
No. 16 Michigan St. vs. No. 15 Ohio St.
Over in the Big Ten, No. 16 Michigan St. (4-1 SU, 3-2 ATS) takes on No. 15 Ohio St. (3-2 SU, 2-3 ATS) in an early Saturday game (12:00 p.m. ET, ABC). The Buckeyes are pegged as -6.5 favorites and the total is 53. Michigan St. is 4-1 on the OVER/UNDER this season.
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