How’d We Do Last Week?
Wildly Inaccurate
Honestly it was an incredibly clean week. There were no glaring wrong. Strong showing everyone
Most Interesting
These were simply incredible. I was VERY happy to find out that for a couple quarters I was able to watch on
NBC, before it switching back to the Cock.
Most Accurate
While it would be easy to highlight both of my takes (CJ Bailey worst game of the year + Eli Raridon breakout) I wanted to feature one that was BOLD. Calling for single digits against that offense was a GREAT call.
And now onto the takes for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the USC Trojans!
Cold Take
USC takes the lead going into the half
Makai Lemon is a problem. Ja’Kobi Lane is also a problem. Notre Dame’s secondary, while vastly improved, is going to be tested early and often. USC knows they will need to score to keep pace with CJ Carr, and will start very aggressively – Jayden Maiava will look to test everyone not named Leonard Moore from the first play of the game. Unfortunately, I think USC gets there pretty consistently in the first half. They are going to target whoever Moore isn’t covering…which should primarily be Lane and their two talented TEs, Lake McRee and Walker Lyons. However, the Irish will adjust and eventually they will throw at Moore, who makes a game changing play early in the second half. Now that I’ve got you stressed, let’s see how the offense is going to fair…
Hot Take
CJ Carr Legacy Game – 75% completion, 5 total TDs (1 rushing), 300+ yards
Notre Dame has had a habit lately of unworldly individual performances at home, at night, against massive foes. There was Benjamin Morrison against Clemson in 2022, Xavier Watts against USC in 2023, Jadarian Price in back to back years putting the team on his back against USC (bonus take JD has a 60+ yard play at some point), and so on. This trend continues, with Carr putting on highlights that will be watched on youtube for years to come.
Simply put, this is the biggest game of CJ Carr’s life. If the Irish win, they are staring down what is likely a home game in the playoffs. This is the last “test” for them to pass and all eyes will be on Carr. He has been excellent this year, though has missed a few big throws over the last couple of weeks. That is not this game. We see the offense humming at it’s best, and USC keeps getting stuck between a shi*t and a fart trying to decide who to take away (I’d like to see you pick between Love, Fields, Raridon, Faison, Pauling, and Carr….). Ultimately this leads to plenty of sharts (weird metaphor but stay with me) and Carr is surgeon like. I expect an even distribution of passes, with 4 guys have 4+ receptions. Simply put, CJ Carr will enter the Heisman Trophy race after Saturday night.
Your Takes: Please leave your takes below (hot, cold medium-any temp). I will feature the Top Takes next week. GO IRISH!
(PS a birdie told me ND is going to be rocking the Green and Gold)….do with that what you will.
