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Notre Dame football: 3 reasons the Irish will beat USC in Week 8

By Brad Weiss

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 01: Kurt Hinish #41 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish blows kisses to the fans after the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl football game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at AT&T Stadium on January 01, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 31-14. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 01: Kurt Hinish #41 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish blows kisses to the fans after the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl football game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at AT&T Stadium on January 01, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 31-14. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame football
CHESTNUT HILL, MASSACHUSETTS – NOVEMBER 14: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on from the sideline during the first half against the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium on November 14, 2020, in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame football: 3 reasons the Irish will beat USC in Week 8

Coaching

At this level of college football, a lot of time the game comes down to coaching, and in this matchup, the Irish have the advantage. Remember, the Trojans fired head coach Clay Helton after two games this season, and his replacement, Donte Wiliams, has gone 2-2 after the firing, with the Trojans looking downright terrible at times.

On Saturday night, especially with an extra week to prepare, I would take the Notre Dame football coaching staff against USC’s in what could be a chess match early on. Brian Kelly is as good a head coach as there is in the country, Tommy Rees is improving, and when it comes to defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman, he may be the best there is.

The Irish have a huge game on their hands on Saturday night, and a win against USC would go a long way in terms of their confidence to kick off the second half of their season. Notre Dame football has a real chance to run the table, finishing 11-1, but it all starts against their rival, USC in a primetime matchup.

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