USC Vs. Notre Dame: Trojans Try To Stop Irish Short Of BCS Championship Game

What are the matchups you consider the keys to victory against Notre Dame? Who has to step up and what will be the biggest factors in an upset win? And what's your score prediction?

DC Trojan, Conquest Chronicles - Last week I said that if SC could pick on UCLA's secondary, they had a chance... and despite racking up yards, SC still lost. So I'm leery of making the same observation about Notre Dame. The answer to the question of "who has to step up" is everyone. If the offensive line gets it together, the coaches find ways to get Wittek yards early, and the defense holds serve, the game could be competitive at least. I don't really believe that will be the case, and expect Notre Dame to win (while hoping for an upset). I'm not predicting the score, because I have literally no idea of how to guess at it.

Michael Castillo, Reign Of Troy: The biggest matchup has to be the Trojans' offensive line and against Notre Dame's front seven, solely because it's the one area that should decide the game without question. Tyler Eifert will have a big day, the Trojans' defensive line will have another solid performance and Marqise Lee will be Marqise Lee. However, if the Trojans want to win the game, Max Tuerk and/or Aundrey Walker have to improve him last week's performance when Walker let Anthony Barr through the backdoor to knock out Barkley. In the end, the Trojans will score some points, they'll contain Everett Golson and Morgan Breslin will have another big day. Trojans win and hopefully it coincides with a Florida loss so two Pac-12 teams can get into the BCS, with Oregon punching a ticket to Miami. USC 27, Notre Dame 23.