It is supposed to be very wet and rainy during the USC-Notre Dame game on Saturday night in South Bend, Indiana.
Point-blank: How much does rain increase Notre Dame’s chances of winning?
Fighting Irish Wire editor Nick Shepkowski had this to say:
“Only slightly. Caleb Williams was great last year against Notre Dame, don’t get me wrong, but Notre Dame couldn’t stop the run against USC. If USC can run the ball again then the weather won’t be an issue whatsoever.”
Our view:
10 percent — that’s not nothing, but it’s not everything. Anything which slows down the USC receivers and passing game is worth something to the Irish, and that shouldn’t be ignored. However, regardless of the weather conditions, Notre Dame’s offensive line has to outplay USC’s defensive line. The fact that it might rain doesn’t mean an offensive line has a better chance of blocking an opposing defensive line. Guys have to win one-on-one battles regardless of the conditions. We’ll see if the Irish can physically dominate that matchup.
We agree that line play is going to decide this game.
*
Follow Fighting Irish Wire for more on Notre Dame as the Irish prepare to face USC.
Follow Buffaloes Wire for complete coverage of Deion Sanders and Colorado.
Follow Ducks Wire for coverage of Oregon football leading into the big game against Washington on October 14.
Prominent Pac-12 sports journalist thinks USC is likely to fire Alex Grinch before season’s end.
USC and Lincoln Riley need to have a plan in place if Alex Grinch coaches poorly and loses to Notre Dame.
Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator might actually be worse than Alex Grinch, a fascinating plot point heading into the October 14 renewal of Irish-Trojans.
Brent Venables is coaching Oklahoma far better this year than Lincoln Riley is coaching USC. It’s up to Riley to change that reality against Notre Dame and Utah.