Saturday night the Fighting Irish head to Southern California to take on the USC Trojans. Odds makers are calling the Trojans heavy favorites against Notre Dame. NCAA betting lines have USC at -31.5 with the total sitting at 48.

In recent years Notre Dame - USC, once one of the nation's most storied rivalries, has lost its luster. This season, with the 5th-ranked Trojans competing for a spot in a BCS bowl and the Fighting Irish coming off one of the most embarrassing losses in program history, this one may have never been this one sided before.

"You see where they are; you see where we are," Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis said at the time. "We're at different ends of the spectrum at this point."

For the 9-1 Trojans, they need an Oregon State loss to win the Pac 10 and go to the Rose Bowl.

If the 17th-ranked Beavers beat no. 19 Oregon on Saturday, Oregon State will go to their first Rose Bowl since 1965, but if they lose and USC wins at UCLA next week, then the Trojans will go back to Pasadena.

The Fighting Irish have lost three out of their last four games, including a 24-23 loss to Syracuse. The Irish coughed up a 13-point fourth-quarter lead against the Orange and allowed the winning touchdown in the final minute.

The Trojans might need to steel a little "luck of the Irish" to get to the Rose Bowl, but won't need any to against Notre Dame. Take the Trojans and give the 31.5 points. They'll win this one by 50.