Notre Dame could give USC challenge

Nobody is calling Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis an offensive genius anymore, except for maybe Weis himself.

The Fighting Irish are staggering through a miserable season with a quarterback rotation of Jimmy Clausen and Evan Sharpley. Weis looked a lot smarter when he was coaching Tom Brady and Brady Quinn.

Despite all of Weis' problems, The Gold Sheet editor Bruce Marshall is siding with Notre Dame as an 18-point home underdog against Southern California on Saturday.

The Irish, 1-6 straight up and 3-4 against the spread, have covered three in a row against Boston College, UCLA and Purdue. The Trojans, 5-1 straight up and 2-4 against the spread, have failed to cover in their past three games.

"I actually believe Notre Dame has got a chance to win this game. USC is way overrated," said Marshall, who went 4-0 in his college plays for the Review-Journal last week.

One of Marshall's plays was Arizona as a 21-point underdog at USC. The Trojans struggled to win, 20-13.

USC quarterback John David Booty did not play last week because of a broken finger on his throwing hand. Booty might play Saturday; if not, sophomore Mark Sanchez will make his second start.

Weis has benched freshman Clausen in favor of Sharpley, a sophomore who gives the Irish more of a passing threat.

"Notre Dame's offense has some reasons for encouragement right now. It's not that hideous," Marshall said. "Sharpley gives them the best chance. Clausen is not quite ready.

"USC has enormous injury problems on the offensive line and on defense. Even if Booty goes, he's not going to be 100 percent. The Trojans' wideouts are no good, and they don't have a downfield passing game."

Marshall (goldsheet.com) analyzes his other plays for Saturday (home team in CAPS):

• Army (+24) over GEORGIA TECH: The Black Knights will put up a fight. They have covered games on the road against Boston College and Wake Forest. Yellow Jackets coach Chan Gailey is 5-10 in his past 15 games as a double-digit favorite.

• Texas (-241/2) over BAYLOR: This is an anti-Baylor bet. It looks as if Bears coach Guy Morriss is on the way out. The Longhorns look like an angry team and they have really put the wood to Baylor, winning the past four in Waco by a combined score of 229-10. Texas should win this game by five or six touchdowns.

• New Mexico (-8) over SAN DIEGO STATE: The Lobos have won and covered six straight in this lopsided Mountain West rivalry. New Mexico coach Rocky Long's defense will create a lot of problems for Aztecs quarterback Kevin O'Connell. Long is 19-5 against the spread in his past 24 games as a visitor.