The latest chapter in the storied rivalry between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and USC Trojans will be written on Saturday when the teams face off in South Bend. Notre Dame came out on top in last year’s meeting, but haven’t beaten USC at home since 2001, losing five in a row to the Trojans in South Beach.
Southern Cal had been dominating this match-up in recent seasons, until the Golden Domers exacted some revenge last season, pulling out a 20-16 victory.
Saturday, October 17, 3:30 p.m. EST
Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and USC Trojans will resume their so-called rivalry on Saturday with the Irish faithful hoping they can finally win one and make into a real rivalry yet again.
There is a long and rich history in the head-to-head series between Notre Dame & USC, and it will renew on Saturday in South Bend.
It is a huge game for the Irish, who have a chance to post the biggest signature win in the Charlie Weis era.
Snapping their winless bowl skid last December, is this the time they finally make themselves relevant again on the national football stage? Oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com don’t seem to think so, setting up USC as the 11-point road favorite.
Does any sports do “rivalry” games better than college football…the Red Sox and Yankees might have a say, and Duke-North Carolina in college hoops…but there is something magical about these big rivalry games in the fall that, to me, anyway, supersede the others.
A prime example is on display this weekend at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, when the 2009 edition of the Red River Rivalry kicks off.
A famous American folk singer once said, “you don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone.”
Nothing could be truer when it comes to college football betting, so make sure to soak it all in during the final full slate of games this weekend. Even by its own high standards, rarely have there been so many pivotal matchups on the board on Thanksgiving weekend that also featured so much value at the betting window (for the latest lines, go to sports.bodog.com).
The national title picture remains cloudy but Sportsbook.com oddsmakers have the Florida Gators as the leading candidate to win the BCS Championship.
Fourth-ranked Florida is listed at 3:2 odds to win the Championship, ahead of conference foe and #1 Alabama Crimson Tide, listed at 5:2 odds. The other team at the top of the pile is #3 Oklahoma. At 3:1 odds, oddsmakers expect Oklahoma to emerge from the Big 12 and play for the national title.
