ESPN "Experts" an OXYMORON: Talk ND / USC

Six ESPN "talking heads" sit and talk Notre Dame vs. USC in the video below.  Please know, I find this group "difficult to watch."  I truly question if any of them have a clue...  You decide on your own:

LINK:  ESPN'S EXPERTS -- TALKIN' NOTRE DAME vs. USC

LINK:  ESPN'S PICK OF THE WEEK

UPDATED: ND vs. USC -- ABC Coverage Map

Here's the UPDATED (11/24) Coverage map for the ND vs. USC football game (Saturday @ 8 PM EST).  ABC MADE A CHANGE THIS MORNING!!! -- ABC JUST RELEASED THAT A FEW MARKETS ON THE EAST COAST WILL NOW BE GETTING THE ND vs. USC GAME;  New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh markets.  Approximately 46% of the country will now be receiving this game.  Here's hoping that still improves -- as ND fans across the country are putting pressure on ABC to broadcast the game.  If you reside in the "yellow area" of this map -- you won't see the game on ABC, but you can catch it on ESPN3.COM or ESPN GAMEPLAN (You must buy at least a "weekly package" which will run you $24.  Here are links to both -- click on the map to enlarge:

LINK:  ESPN3.COM

LINK:  ESPN GAMEPLAN

Coach Kelly's Press Conference -- USC Week

University of Notre Dame Head Football Coach -- Brian Kelly met with the media today at noon to discuss this week's opponent -- the University of Southern California Trojans.  Here's the link:

LINK:  COACH KELLY TALKS USC GAME

Notre Dame's Weekend in NYC -- A Great Video!

This video captures -- quite quickly -- what Notre Dame pulled off this past weekend in New York City.  You'll see photos and video footage of events, places, etc. -- that have not been available before -- it's great stuff!  A truly historic weekend for the University of Notre Dame.  This video, that was just "tweeted" by @Tony_Fuller -- IS MUST SEE -- thanks Tony!  There's also a link to a photo gallery of ND in NYC posted on Notre Dame's student newspaper's site:

LINK:  ND in NYC! 

LINK:  OBSERVER -- PHOTO GALLERY FROM NYC

Notre Dame's Defense -- National Rankings

It's time for our weekly look at where Notre Dame Football ranks in certain statistical categories amongst the 120 teams in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision -- AFTER ELEVEN GAMES OF THE 2010 SEASON.  In today's analysis you'll see how Notre Dame's defense currently stands on a national basis -- as compared to their final ranking for 2009 and against the top team in the country -- in each category this season.

DEFENSE -- TEAM STATISTICS

Quarterback Sacks:  2010 Rank - #29 with 26 QB sacks -- in 2009 we had 19 QB sacks for the season, ranking us #92 -- Florida State leads the country with 41 QB sacks.  

Tackles for Loss:  2010 Rank - #57 with an average of 5.91 tackles for loss per game -- in 2009 we averaged 6.0 tackles for loss per game, ranking us #48 in the country.  Boise State leads the country with an average of 8.8 tackles for loss per game.  

Interceptions:  2010 Rank - #30 with 13 interceptions -- in 2009 we had 12 interceptions for the season, ranking us #50 -- Alabama leads the country with 21 interceptions. 

First Downs:  2010 Rank - #42 allowing an average of 18.45 first downs per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 19.67 first downs per game, ranking us #72   -- TCU leads the country giving up an average of 11.55 first downs per game.

Third Down Conversion Rate:  2010 Rank - #30 allowing only 36,21% conversion rate on third down -- in 2009 we allowed a 39.5% conversion rate, ranking us #67 -- West Virginia leads the country allowing only a 21.74%  conversion rate. 

Red Zone Efficiency:  2010 Rank - #36 allowing the team to score 79% of the time -- in 2009 we allowed teams to score 75% of the time, ranking us #15 -- Boise State leads the country allowing teams to score 47% of the time.

Turnovers Gained:  2010 Rank - #44 with 20 turnovers gained -- in 2009 we gained 19 turnovers for the season, ranking us #80 -- Hawaii leads the country with 31 turnovers gained this season. 

Rushing Yards:  2010 Rank - #62 giving up an average of 153 yards rushing per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 170 yards rushing per game, ranking us #89 -- Boise State leads the country giving up an average of 72 yards rushing per game.  

Passing Yards:  2010 Rank - #51 giving up an average of 208 yards passing per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 227 yards passing per game, ranking us #76 in the country.  TCU leads the country giving up an average of 135 yards passing per game.

Total Yards:  2010 Rank - #55 giving up 362 yards per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 397 yards per game, ranking us #86 -- TCU leads the country giving up 223 yards per game.  

Points Allowed Per Game:  2010 Rank - #33 giving up 20.91 points per game -- in 2009 we gave up 25.3 points per game, ranking us #63 -- TCU leads the country giving up 10.91 points per game. 

DEFENSE -- INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Tackles Per Game:

• Manti Teo -- averaging 10.73 tackles per game -- ranked #13 in the country

Sacks:

• Darius Fleming -- 5.5 sacks this season -- ranked #70 in the country
• Ethan Johnson --  5.0 sacks this season -- ranked #83 in the country

Interceptions

• Harrison Smith -- 3 interceptions this season -- ranked #47 in the country
• Darrin Walls -- 3 interceptions this season -- ranked #47 in the country

TOMORROW AN ANALYSIS OF THE NOTRE DAME OFFENSE

Ruffer -- A Finalist For The Lou Groza Award!

Notre Dame's "Mr. Perfect" David Ruffer -- was named yesterday as one of the three Finalists for the 2010 Lou Groza Award -- which is awarded annually by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission to the nation's top place-kicker.  Ruffer, joined the Irish in the middle of last season as a "walk on" straight from Notre Dame's "interhall" football league.  And, all he's done is make every kick he's attempted ever since!  Ruffer is a "perfect" 15 for 15 this season -- the only kicker in the FBS that has attempted at least 10 field goals without missing -- and he's now 20 for 20 for his career.  Could be a movie here!!!  The winner will be announced at the 19th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet on Tuesday, Dec. 7th at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Florida -- and again on Thursday, Dec. 9th at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show.

LINK:  LOU GROZA AWARD FINALISTS