Newsstand: What the spread opened as for the Notre Dame vs. USC game

Following the worst loss in the coach Marcus Freeman era, Vegas still likes Notre Dame to beat Southern California when the two rivals square off on Saturday night. According to Vegas Insider, the Fighting Irish opened as a 1-point favorite against the Trojans. The over/under opened at 66.5 points

No. 14 Louisville defeated No. 21 Notre Dame 33-20 last Saturday. The 13-point deficit is the most in Freeman’s 21 games as head coach. Before losing to the Cardinals, Notre Dame’s worst loss was 11 points to USC on Nov. 26. The Trojans took down the Irish 38-27 in Los Angeles last season.

It’s the sixth time the Irish have been favored in a game this season. Vegas previously gave Notre Dame the edge against Navy, Tennessee State (-48.5), NC State (-7), Central Michigan (-34.5), Duke (-5) and Louisville (-6.5). The Irish covered every spread besides its 41-17 victory over CMU on Sept. 16. Notre Dame’s (+3) 17-14 loss to Ohio State on Sept. 23 was a push.

Because they lost to Louisville, Notre Dame also failed to cover a 6.5-point margin. The Irish are 3-2-1 against the spread in 2023.

USC survived Arizona with a 43-41 victory in three overtimes last Saturday. The Trojans were a 21-point favorite in that game. Southern California is 2-4 against the spread this season.

Notre Dame is 2-2-1 against the spread when facing USC in its last five meetings.

Notre Dame Tweets of the Weekend

The Irish are the No. 12 team in the country according to ESPN’s computer-generated FPI rankings.

ESPN’s computer-generated FPI has updated heading into Week 7https://t.co/EGgsI3q7Lq pic.twitter.com/R3oxzEq5y1

— On3 (@On3sports) October 8, 2023

Former Notre Dame kicker Blake Grupe converted on both field goal tries over 50 yards in the New Orleans Saints 34-0 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday.

2/2 from 50+

Pretty good, @blakegrupe.#Saints | @LAPServicesLA pic.twitter.com/pMKAzDD7A2

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 8, 2023

Dan Orlovsky is a former NFL quarterback and NFL analyst.

Notre Dame offense is way way way too stagnant and static pre snap.

Very little help to players go win/get open

— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) October 8, 2023

Notre Dame Quote of the Weekend

“We have a lot more work to do.”

— Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman’s final remark to reporters following Saturday’s 33-20 loss to Louisville.

Notre Dame Headlines of the Weekend

The Mike Goolsby Show: Sounding off on Notre Dame’s 33-20 loss vs. LouisvilleNotre Dame vs. Louisville snap counts, participation chart: DefenseInitial visitor list: Notre Dame football to host several key recruiting targets for Southern California gameNotre Dame vs. Louisville snap counts, participation chart: DefenseNotre Dame vs. Louisville snap counts, participation chart: OffenseWhere Notre Dame football ranks in Week 7 Associated Press Poll after Louisville lossBreaking down PFF grades for the Notre Dame defense in loss to LouisvilleBreaking down PFF grades for the Notre Dame offense in loss to LouisvilleEverything Louisville coach Jeff Brohm said about Notre Dame football after Cardinals winWhat they’re saying about Notre Dame’s 33-20 loss at LouisvilleWhy the Notre Dame football offense isn’t what we thought it wasWhy Notre Dame was doomed from the start in loss to LouisvilleHow third down woes loomed large in Notre Dame loss to LouisvilleReport card: Grading Notre Dame football in Irish loss to LouisvilleFive thoughts: Over-reliance on Mitchell Evans hurts Notre Dame pass gameHow it happened: Breaking down Notre Dame football loss to LouisvilleEverything coach Marcus Freeman said after Notre Dame’s 33-20 loss to LouisvilleNotre Dame vs. Louisville game ballsNotre Dame coach Marcus Freeman updates the injury status of DB Thomas Harper

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