Game of the Week

USC cheated. Shortly after USC's 34-31 victory over Notre Dame last season, the Wiz was on the case, being the first to point out that Reggie Bush illegally pushed Matt Leinart into the end zone on the winning touchdown. Then he even provided the above photo of the "Bush Push." But that doesn't matter now. We have another Notre Dame-USC game staring us in the face, and this is a must-win game for the Trojans, winners of 32 in a row at the L.A. Coliseum. It's our game of the week, and our main man Mark Mathis is back to break it down. He predicted the Buckeyes to win by four points last week. They won by three. In other words, he is not to be trifled with! So take it away, Mark:

"Question: Did you hear that two of the Notre Dame playbooks were stolen?
Answer: Charlie Weis is very upset. He didn't even finish coloring them.

Two Notre Dame grads are on opposite sides of a river. The first one yells across to the second one "Hey, how do I get to the other side?" The second one yells back, "You are on the other side."

Q: Did you hear about the two Notre Dame fans who froze to death at the drive-in movie?
A: They went to see "Closed for the Winter."

Q: What did the N.D. football player get on his final exam?
A: Drool.

Q: What is the difference between a Notre Dame fan and a trampoline?
A: You take off your shoes before jumping on a trampoline.

Q: What's the difference between the Notre Dame cheerleaders and the Titanic?
A: Only a couple thousand people went down on the titanic.

Q: What do the Fighting Irish and marijuana have in common?
A: They both get smoked in a bowl.

Q: Where do you go to in Indiana when there is a chance of a tornado?
A: Notre Dame Stadium. I hear they never get a touchdown there!

Q: How do you get a Notre Dame cheerleader pregnant?
A: Cum in her shoes and let the flies do the rest.

Q: Why has the Notre Dame recruiting fallen on hard times?
A: The new coach found out that the SAT score of 900 was individual, not cumulative!

OK, what's the old saying ... Your two favorite teams are your alma mater and whoever is playing Notre Dame! Did I tell you how much I love USC! I love their cheerleaders, their band and their former running backs ... with one exception. Mr. Slice and Dice!

It should be a good one folks. I am taking my 9-3 record into this one with USC on top, 41-38. Look for my 12-0 record with the weather to keep on track with skies mostly clear and a temperature of 58 at kickoff. Peace out!"

Scott Wolf, L.A. Daily News: Why is Notre Dame, with 18 senior starters, a seven-point underdog?

Mike Kern, Philadelphia News: Simply put, Notre Dame-USC is the best intersectional rivalry anywhere (registration).

Blue-Gray Sky: The Notre Dame blog of blogs. This is S.C. week, and around these parts, nothing else matters.

Displaced Trojan: The newest addition to our blogroll. The chronicles of a USC alum living in Connecticut.

House Rock Built: We have to throw some love their way (turn down your speakers). They were the folks who brought us the legendary rant by Mike Valenti of Detroit's 1270 XYT after Michigan State's loss to Notre Dame.