USC vs. Notre Dame: 7 Key Matchups to Watch For

After a disastrous and error-filled 2010 home loss in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum ended USC's 8-game winning streak against Notre Dame, the USC Trojan football team travels to South Bend to face the Fighting Irish in a rare night game on the Notre Dame campus.

Overall, the Irish and the men of Troy are statistically quite close to one another.

However, the two teams show critical differences that will be crucial at game time in determining who gets the win tonight. Click through to see who is most likely to come out on top.

Key Matchup No. 1: Scoring

In the scoring department, Notre Dame starts fast and USC is very stout on defense early. This will be a crucial matchup early on as Notre Dame pushes to score quickly. While most teams are just getting a feel for the contest, USC starts off stingy.

USC also starts scoring fast but tails off. In addition, Notre Dame is very tough on defense in the 3rd quarter, meaning the team adjusts well at halftime. Oddly, however, the Irish allow far more points late in games than USC does.

So if the game is close in the 4th quarter, then the Irish might let one slip through their fingers.

Key Matchup No. 2: Turnovers

Turnovers can often completely shift the tide and momentum of a game. A disheartening fumble near the goal line, a sack and the recovery of a dropped ball, or an interception returned for a touchdown can all turn a game around 180 degrees and propel a team to victory.

USC's turnover rating is a mildly disappointing -2, but Notre Dame's turnover rating is a staggering -7. 

And while ND fans argue many of those turnovers were earlier in the season, Notre Dame has thrown twice as many interceptions as USC. If the game is close and the improved USC defense is frosty, a pick-6 for USC could seal a victory for the Trojans.

Key Matchup No. 3: Third Downs

Nothing disheartens defensive players more than working hard to stop an opponent, only to see their teammates on offense go three-and-out after a big defensive stand. No team excels at the defensive three-and-out this 2011 season like Alabama, and both USC and Notre Dame would have trouble facing that Tide defense with their respective 48 percent and 47 percent third down completion rates.

So while both teams complete thirrd downs at roughly the same percentage, USC's defense allows 29 percent more thirrd down conversions than the Notre Dame defense.

If it's a close game and the Irish are moving the ball, then they have the edge in this phase of the game.

Key Matchup No. 4: Field Goals

Oft-forgotten kickers spend most of a game haunting the sidelines, or setting a practice ball on end under their nifty little tripod holder and taking a practice kick.

But when a close game is on the line, no one is more important to a football team than the placekicker.

Notre Dame is a paltry four of eight on field goal attempts; USC is an impressive 10 of 11.

If the outcome of tonight's game comes down to a field goal, then the Fighting Irish better be on upset alert.

Key Matchup No. 5: Penalties

USC has committed fewer penalties than Notre Dame, but Notre Dame opponents get flagged 131 percent more frequently than USC opponents.

The old USC fan complaint rings true this year: Notre Dame gets all the calls. And with tonight's game under the watchful and generous supervision of Touchdown Jesus and his helpful on-field officiating minions, expect USC to see more yellow flags on the field than green shirts in the stands. 

Key Matchup No. 6: Rushing the Football

Notre Dame rushes close to 200 yards per game, while USC allows only a stingy 99 yards per contest. This will be a critical aspect of the game—can the Trojans slow the Irish running attack?

If the USC defense can put a stop to Notre Dame's rushing scheme, then the outcome becomes a question of which Matt Barkley shows up at game time: the five-TD tosses, pinpoint accuracy 'Syracuse' Barkley, or the spray it and sail it 'Cal' Barkley.

(Note: at home, Barkley has a 72 percent completion rate with 13 TDs and two INTs. On the road, he has a 62 percent rate and has only three TDs against two INTs.)

Key Matchup No. 7: Team Balance

USC has five rushing and 16 passing touchdowns, clearly demonstrating their reliance on the forward pass. By comparison, Notre Dame has 11 rushing and 15 passing touchdowns, making them a much more balanced football team.

In addition, when USC is up, they play noticeably better than when they are down, which is when they seem to lose their composure.

If the tough Notre Dame passing defense can hinder USC's 300 yards-a-game aerial attack, then USC faces a long day's journey into the South Bend night.

Because of their recent lack of turnovers, their improved scoring and defense, and Matt Barkley's Jekyll-and-Hyde home and road personas, Notre Dame has a good chance of extending the Irish win streak in this long-standing rivalry to two in a row.