On Saturday, No. 24 Louisville will make its first trip ever to South Bend to take on Notre Dame. It’s quite an interesting matchup of two 7-3 teams, simply because of the preseason hype that surrounded both of the programs.
Notre Dame was, at one point, a contender for the College Football Playoff. Led by quarterback Everett Golson, the Fighting Irish offense has been solid all season. However, their defense has let them down consistently, blowing their most recent game at home versus Northwestern. The Cardinals, on the other hand, began the season with question marks nearly all across the board. At 7-3 in their first ACC season, Louisville should be enthused by their No. 24 ranking heading into this week.
This matchup is truly about strength against strength, and weakness against weakness. The Cardinals have maintained a top five defense this season, and the Irish have been able to remain solid on offense. The Cards defense is spearheaded by safety Gerod Holliman, who currently leads the nation with 13 interceptions, just one shy of breaking the NCAA record. The Irish offense is the strong point of their football team, ranking 15th in passing yards and 27th in total points. However, it has been the tendency of Everett Golson to devalue holding onto the football, producing turnovers at costly times. For Louisville, a team with a stellar defensive unit, they will look to capitalize and force Notre Dame into third and long situations since the Irish struggle with running the football.
On the other side of the ball, both teams will look to improve from their less than outstanding showings through the first ten games this season. Notre Dame’s defense is giving up 42 points per game over the last five games. What else really needs to be said on their behalf? They gave up 43 points to Northwestern, who is currently ranked 112th in the nation in points per game. For Louisville, freshman Reggie Bonnafon takes the reigns at quarterback again for the Cardinals. Bonnafon adds a unique dynamic of speed to the Cardinals offense, which opens up the rest of the offense for Louisville. Senior running back Michael Dyer and wide receiver Devante Parker will also both be looking to improve their draft stocks against the underachieving Irish D.
Players to Watch:
Louisville WR Davonte Parker – arguably the best wide receiver in this year’s class behind Alabama’s Amari Cooper, Parker has given the Cardinals offense a spark since his return a few weeks ago. Before Parker took the field for the Cards, they consistently struggled to move the ball on third down. Not that they have become a juggernaut since Parker’s return, but they certainly have seen improvement in all facets of the offense. Parker requires extra attention from a defense, allowing the rest of the field to open up.
Notre Dame RB Tarean Foster – Everyone knows that Everett Golson is a threat at quarterback. However, on a day that is supposed to be frigid, windy and rainy, his value may be slightly diminished. Therefore, Notre Dame will turn to Foster to help move the ball. Against a defense like Louisville’s, it will be important that Foster comes in and chips away at long yardage, hoping to continue rushing at a rate of 5.1 yards per carry.
Louisville LB Lorenzo Mauldin – After missing the Boston College game due to injury, the senior returns this week for Louisville. Mauldin has made a name for himself this season with his exceptional playmaking ability and making big tackles for loss at important times for the Cards. He returns this week, and will need to do more of the same if Louisville has a chance to shut down Notre Dame.
Currently, the Irish are favored by 3.5 points, with the over/under sitting at 52.5. For those who enjoy betting, this game is a tough one to pick. Louisville is coming off of a bye week, but Notre Dame is coming off of a loss. For both teams, the motivation is palpable, and they both need a win this game to continue success this season. For Louisville, a win here could ultimately lead to an appearance in the Orange Bowl.
My prediction: Louisville 28, Notre Dame 24. Notre Dame’s recent games have been demoralizing, while Louisville has been playing at an exceptionally high level recently. The stadium will be lively, where representation from both teams will undoubtedly be felt.
*Section Photo credit to Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Andrew Weber, USA Today Sports.
