ND schedule has been rated very tough. They beat Michigan, Michigan, Miami, Stanford, Okla., now at USC all good football teams. Sure ND played down to the level of some un rated teams. But they had a new freshmen QB who was learning a difficult system, but got better each week, and is very good. Defence is excellent only avg. 10 points per game. only 2 rushing TD's all year, and leads all 120 teams in many defensive stats. Just a great year, who no one predicted. I made a large bet to win over 8.5 games before season started, I figured 9 wins maybe 10. I do agree that the USC game will be very close.QB Bartley might not play due to injury during UCLA game. If ND goes 12-0 they will play Alabama for championship. Who would have dreames that both Oregon, and KS would lose KS favored by 11.5 and Oregon favored by 20.5 So anything can happenVegas bookies made a killing on these games. Go Irish