I also thing you should go with 'the others'. A friend of my housmate in 2nd year moved in with 'course people' and in the end, the house ended up being quite stress filled as everyone was edgy at the same time (coursework deadline, tests, exams) and so she was at our house a lot of the time.
If you don't understand some homework, you can always call them/talk to them on msn and ask them to help you, or perhaps ask if you can nip over for an explanation if it's easier that way. The people I lived with in my 2nd year all did different subject and it worked out fine. If i couldn't do some work, I'd get on the phone or msn, or ask when my course friends were on campus between classes for some help. We were always asking each other for help. You don't have to live together for that!
Travelling to uni alone isn't a big deal really, is it?..
Also if you live with 'course friends', like others have said, you're going to be socialising with them A LOT no doubt, and your real friends 'the others' might start to feel neglected. And if in the end you don't really get on with them, it'll be a problem. You're more likely to get on better and have a fun year with your real friends! At least in that house you actually know everyone properly (I presume), instead of 1 person you don't even really know and another that you're pretty sure will annoy you.