"Stanford Steve" Coughlin and Chris "The Bear" Fallica cover the college football season as only they can, offering their top picks, betting nuggets and totals worth wagering on.
Records:
The Bear (Last week: 0-3. Season: 13-19)
Stanford Steve (Last week: 2-3. Season: 19-17)
Note: All lines are from Caesars Sportsbook.
The Plays
USC Trojans at No. 13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-7, 57.5)
Stanford Steve: I'm expecting a little chill in the air Saturday night in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame gets its all-everything tight end Michael Mayer back, which should provide a huge lift to an offense that has lacked consistency. I like the improving defense of the Irish and their secondary, which includes All-American candidate Kyle Hamilton and CB Cam Hart. They match up well with the Air Raid of the Trojans, who feature star wide receiver Drake London (64 catches in 6 games). I expect the Irish to come out with more of a sense of urgency, too, knowing they can still manage a successful season.
Pick: Notre Dame -7 (Notre Dame 34, USC 19)
Fallica: The Trojans have a zig-zag pattern this season, which makes perfect sense. After laying an egg at home vs. Utah, it's a perfect spot for a good performance as a road dog vs. a rival. I don't know if Notre Dame has an answer defensively for London, and all Notre Dame has done all year is play close games behind mediocre offensive line and QB play.
Pick: USC +7