#6 Notre Dame at #3 USC
Saturday, 8:00 pm Eastern
ABC
Opening Line: USC -7
The best game of the weekend takes place Saturday night in Los Angeles as the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame take on the Trojans of USC. A win by Notre Dame doesn't get the Irish into the national championship game, but it would definitely keep USC out. SBG Global reports that the betting public is split on if Notre Dame can actually pull off the feat.
USC (9-1) can do no worse than go to the Rose Bowl, but Notre Dame (10-1) needs a win to assure itself a BCS bowl bid. The Trojans are third in the BCS standings, only slightly behind No. 2 Michigan, and the Irish are fifth but have a lot more ground to make up. ''Wherever they put us, they put us,'' USC coach Pete Carroll said. ''We play a great schedule, that's all I know. I'll be the last guy to campaign for us.''
USC is an 8.5 point favorite with a total of 56.5 at SBG Global.
Notre Dame will clearly move ahead of USC with a victory Saturday, and could overtake Florida if they lose this week to Florida State or in next week's SEC title game against No. 5 Arkansas. ''I think that our best chance - without going into being a politician - our best chance is to go out to USC and beat USC and let the chips fall where they may,'' Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis said. ''You can't even be involved in the conversation if you don't go beat USC.''
The Trojans nearly lost to Notre Dame last year but Matt Leinart pushed and spun his way into the end zone - helped by a shove from Reggie Bush - with 3 seconds left as USC got out of South Bend with a 34-31 victory.
Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn hasn't had much success in three games against the Trojans, completing only 50 percent of his passes for 537 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He goes against a USC defense which has been outstanding recently, allowing a total of 19 points and forcing eight turnovers over its past three games. USC did not commit a turnover for the fourth time this season last week, and has outscored opponents 143-33 of late. Quarterback John David Booty has thrown only one interception and been sacked two times in three games since USC's only loss - 39-24 at Oregon State.
The Trojans have won four in a row over the Irish in a series that dates back to 1926, with Notre Dame leading 42-30-5.
Receive up to a 30% online initial deposit bonus when you play with SBG Global.
Chicago Bears at New England Patriots
Sunday, 4:15 pm Eastern
FOX
Opening Line: Patriots -3
This should be a great game between two of the best teams in the NFL. The Bears are coming off two solid road wins versus the Giants and Jets while the Patriots had their best overall effort of the season in Week 11 at Green Bay. SBG Global sportsbook reports that most bets are not coming in on a side but yet on the total.
Sunday's meeting between the Bears and Patriots could be a preview of Super Bowl XLI in Miami. The Bears are tied with the Indianapolis Colts for the league's best record. A win over the Patriots, coupled with losses by Minnesota (4-6) and Green Bay (4-6), would give the Bears their second straight NFC North title under coach Lovie Smith.
The Patriots are seeking their fourth straight AFC East crown. They own a two-game lead over the New York Jets, but all three of their losses have come at home this season.
New England is a 3.5 point favorite with a total of 36.5 at SBG Global.
The Bears have allowed a league-low 12.0 points per game with two shutouts. They have held opponents to 10 points or fewer six times and lead the NFL with 29 takeaways. Last week, linebacker Brian Urlacher, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, compiled 11 tackles and an interception in a 10-0 victory over the Jets.
The Patriots defense played well last week in a 35-0 triumph at Green Bay last week. Linebacker Mike Vrabel and defensive end Ty Warren each had 1 1/2 sacks. New England has allowed just 13.1 points per game.
Chicago Bears running back Thomas Jones rushed for 234 yards in the Bears' last two wins at the Meadowlands and he will look for room this week against the Patriots defense.
Yards Per Game: CHI 328, NWE 346.2
Points Per Game: CHI 28.2, NWE 23.6
Yards Allowed: CHI 250.4, NWE 283.1
Points Allowed: CHI 12, NWE 13.1
The Pats won the last meeting, 33-30, at Chicago in 2002.
Receive up to a 30% online initial deposit bonus when you play with SBG Global.
Saturday, 8:00 pm Eastern
ABC
Opening Line: USC -7
The best game of the weekend takes place Saturday night in Los Angeles as the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame take on the Trojans of USC. A win by Notre Dame doesn't get the Irish into the national championship game, but it would definitely keep USC out. SBG Global reports that the betting public is split on if Notre Dame can actually pull off the feat.
USC (9-1) can do no worse than go to the Rose Bowl, but Notre Dame (10-1) needs a win to assure itself a BCS bowl bid. The Trojans are third in the BCS standings, only slightly behind No. 2 Michigan, and the Irish are fifth but have a lot more ground to make up. ''Wherever they put us, they put us,'' USC coach Pete Carroll said. ''We play a great schedule, that's all I know. I'll be the last guy to campaign for us.''
USC is an 8.5 point favorite with a total of 56.5 at SBG Global.
Notre Dame will clearly move ahead of USC with a victory Saturday, and could overtake Florida if they lose this week to Florida State or in next week's SEC title game against No. 5 Arkansas. ''I think that our best chance - without going into being a politician - our best chance is to go out to USC and beat USC and let the chips fall where they may,'' Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis said. ''You can't even be involved in the conversation if you don't go beat USC.''
The Trojans nearly lost to Notre Dame last year but Matt Leinart pushed and spun his way into the end zone - helped by a shove from Reggie Bush - with 3 seconds left as USC got out of South Bend with a 34-31 victory.
Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn hasn't had much success in three games against the Trojans, completing only 50 percent of his passes for 537 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He goes against a USC defense which has been outstanding recently, allowing a total of 19 points and forcing eight turnovers over its past three games. USC did not commit a turnover for the fourth time this season last week, and has outscored opponents 143-33 of late. Quarterback John David Booty has thrown only one interception and been sacked two times in three games since USC's only loss - 39-24 at Oregon State.
The Trojans have won four in a row over the Irish in a series that dates back to 1926, with Notre Dame leading 42-30-5.
Receive up to a 30% online initial deposit bonus when you play with SBG Global.
Chicago Bears at New England Patriots
Sunday, 4:15 pm Eastern
FOX
Opening Line: Patriots -3
This should be a great game between two of the best teams in the NFL. The Bears are coming off two solid road wins versus the Giants and Jets while the Patriots had their best overall effort of the season in Week 11 at Green Bay. SBG Global sportsbook reports that most bets are not coming in on a side but yet on the total.
Sunday's meeting between the Bears and Patriots could be a preview of Super Bowl XLI in Miami. The Bears are tied with the Indianapolis Colts for the league's best record. A win over the Patriots, coupled with losses by Minnesota (4-6) and Green Bay (4-6), would give the Bears their second straight NFC North title under coach Lovie Smith.
The Patriots are seeking their fourth straight AFC East crown. They own a two-game lead over the New York Jets, but all three of their losses have come at home this season.
New England is a 3.5 point favorite with a total of 36.5 at SBG Global.
The Bears have allowed a league-low 12.0 points per game with two shutouts. They have held opponents to 10 points or fewer six times and lead the NFL with 29 takeaways. Last week, linebacker Brian Urlacher, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, compiled 11 tackles and an interception in a 10-0 victory over the Jets.
The Patriots defense played well last week in a 35-0 triumph at Green Bay last week. Linebacker Mike Vrabel and defensive end Ty Warren each had 1 1/2 sacks. New England has allowed just 13.1 points per game.
Chicago Bears running back Thomas Jones rushed for 234 yards in the Bears' last two wins at the Meadowlands and he will look for room this week against the Patriots defense.
Yards Per Game: CHI 328, NWE 346.2
Points Per Game: CHI 28.2, NWE 23.6
Yards Allowed: CHI 250.4, NWE 283.1
Points Allowed: CHI 12, NWE 13.1
The Pats won the last meeting, 33-30, at Chicago in 2002.
Receive up to a 30% online initial deposit bonus when you play with SBG Global.
