Oct. 17--TV/radio: 6:30 p.m. Saturday; NBC-5, WLS-AM 890.
Line: Notre Dame by 5.
Records: USC 3-2; Notre Dame 5-1.
Last meeting: USC won 49-14 on Nov. 29, 2014, in Los Angeles.
On the offensive: C.J. Prosise is averaging 7.1 yards per carry and has topped 100 rushing yards in four of five starts. The Trojans rank 65th in total defense (387.8 ypg) but 22nd in scoring defense (17.4 ppg), allowing more than 17 points only once.
Getting defensive: QB Cody Kessler (69.5 completion percentage) and WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (123.8 ypg, 6 TDs) will test the Irish secondary. USC has outscored opponents 59-7 in the first quarter; the Irish gave up no first-quarter points in their first three games but 27 in the last three.
The number: 4. Head coaches USC has had since the beginning of the 2013 season, including Clay Helton, currently on his second interim stint.
The talk: How will the Trojans respond to coach Steve Sarkisian's firing this week? How will Notre Dame respond to the blowout loss in L.A. last season?
Paul Skrbina's pick: Prosise again will be the difference for the Irish. Notre Dame 31, USC 21.
