Fast start, fast start and fast start. Notre Dame must come out uptempo and fast, USC could not handle the offenses of Arizona or Oregon–defense just could not keep up, ND must follow that format and score touchdowns and a lot of them to win.

USC will be all psyched up at the start but their defense will wilt if they are playing from behind. ND can’t let them hang around and the offense must pedal to the metal for 4 quarters. USC defense coach does not know how to handle a fast paced spread offense but ND must score points in just about every possession.

On defense: kill the QB should be the game plan. First start for the 6’4″ 245lb soph–don’t let that fool you–USC does not recruit so so QB’s–they usually get a top 3 guy and Wittek was a 5 star recruit. Constant pressure and heavy hits on him and he will start panicking, but the key is HARD hits just blast him. One defensive player should be assigned to hit him on every play.

Finally, with the lead don’t go prevent like the Florida State game last year which cost ND the game. Give this kid time and he will hit Lee, Wood and Agholar eventually and we don’t have anyone who can run with Lee–so bomb plays will kill us.

Let’s look at their losses:

• L — 38-28 to UCLA–last week
• L — 21-14 to Stanford
• L — 39-36 to Arizona
• L — 62-51 to Oregon

They lost all their tough games, the rest were nobody’s. What the above shows is points, you just have to out score them. We don’t want a re-run of the 2005 game

So, there you have it, play clean game–no false starts, no fumbles and no stupid picks and just have the ambulance ready for Max.

Don’t think it will work out that way but believe our defense will save us again.

Notre Dame 31 USC 17