Rockne's Roundtable

kiffin is sandbagging.

this kid is extremey dangerous. i prefer barkley

First, I believe the Irish will win, for a number of reasons. I believed that before Barkley went out.

Nevertheless, this game scares me. I was in the Coliseum in 1964, and have never felt comfortable about playing SC since. I believe something like 6 perfect Irish seasons have died on the floor of that stadium. SC may be playing with a backup QB, but this series has had backups win in their first start before. (think of Coley O'Brien in 1966).

Despite the nagging little voice in the background, I still believe the Irish will win. I'll feel more comfortable though, when the final seconds tick off, and ND has at least 1 more on the scoreboard than the other guys. I'd prefer a lot bigger lead, but 1 will do if necessary.

Whatever happens, I'll be there to see it. Go Irish!!

The offensive and defensive lines will favor Notre Dame.

USC emphasizes the one-dimensional offense of receivers making big plays.

Trojans not well rounded enough to beat the number one team and the number one defense in america.

I think people are giving USC too much credit. They remind me more of Miami this year. And they are a reflection of their coach; no character or moral fiber. ND will punish them. This is going to be more like 1966 than 1964.

Huge difference between the 1964 USC Trojans, and the 2012 installation. That '64 group was coached by John McKay, one of the great coaches in that program's history. They won't be naming any facilities after Lane Kiffin when he leaves.

That '64 team didn't enter the Notre Dame game completely defeated. That group was tied for first in its conference (though Oregon State would ultimately get the Rose Bowl nod). That group was 2-1 against opponents ranked No. 1 or No. 2 that season, including a 40-14 trouncing of Oklahoma on the road.

I think John McKay had the credibility to pull of that kind of upset. Where as Lane Kiffin seems to have little respect for anyone - evidenced by his comments even since the UCLA game putting problems with the team elsewhere than at his own feet. And as such has no one's respect, including seemingly his own team's.

Pat Haden recently said Kiffin's job is secure, but he's about as much of a lame duck coach at this point as Weis was in 2008, maybe even 2009.

If Notre Dame goes out and plays the way they do all season, they steamroll USC, which is probably playing for the Sun Bowl regardless of what happens Saturday night.

I disagree. I think plans are already in the works for the Lane Kiffin stall in the refurbished USC locker room.

First of all, LK is working under NCAA sanctions and limited scholarships, and still produced some great teams. The sanctions caught up with SC this year as well as some bad (I see it as good - for us) luck along the way. He's still pulling in the 5 stars and top 5 recruiting classes, even with the sanctions and down year so, he's not going anywhere.

As for the game, I believe the IRISh will come to play regardless of who the QB would have been and leave with a solid victory. This team is "blessed" and I just don't see them losing - this game or the NC.

In preseason I stated that there is no reason why this team couldn't go 10-2 and had the manpower to win out. Now, I get to see it. GO IRISH!

Didn't Tennessee name a sewer treatment plant after the venerable Lame Kiffin?