Predictions: Stanford-Notre Dame
By Andrew Hall
Sep 22, 2012; South Bend, IN, USA; A general view of Notre Dame Stadium during the first quarter of the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Michigan Wolverines. Notre Dame won 13-6. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-US PRESSWIRE
Stanford Cardinal
October 13, 2012 at 3:30 p.m. EST
Last Meeting: Notre Dame-14 Stanford 28
TV: NBC
Lead Editor Andrew Hall: Stanford 20-Notre Dame 24
Staff Writer Nick Combs: Stanford 10-Notre Dame 27
Staff Writer Tim Colin: Stanford 10-Notre Dame 21
Podcast Co-Host Brett Arney: Stanford 7-Notre Dame 24
The Stanford Offense ranks 83rd in the country with 385 yards per game. Balance is the name of the game for the Cardinal. 154.8 yards rushing and 230.2 yard passing make up the average. Stepfan Taylor leads the Cardinal running game. The passing game is lead by first-year starter Josh Nunes. The Cardinal Offense has been inconsistent, scoring 20, 50, 21, 13 and 54 for 31.6 point average.
Notre Dame enters this game only giving up 4 points per game in their last three games. Stanford features an above offensive line with adequate position talent. However, it would appear that Stanford plays right into Notre Dame’s strengths. They do not have a lot athleticism on the outside and their attack is started by the running game. Notre Dame’s strength is stopping the running. Through five games, Notre Dame has only 106.8 yards per game (and that total is slightly skewed by Navy’s total). It would seem likely that Notre Dame would be able to force Stanford to be one dimensional.
Stanford is currently ranked 42nd in scoring defense giving up 21.8 points per game, ranked 6th in rushing defense only giving up 77.2 rushing yards per game, and ranked 117th (out of 124 schools) in pass defense giving up 299.4 passing yards per game. Overall, Stanford ranks 54th in total defense on the season, while opposing teams average 376.6 yards per game.
Overall, Stanford will not let you run the football. They held USC to an abysmal 26 yards rushing. If Golson can be as accurate as he was last week, Coach Kelly could open up the offense even more and let the guy go to work. Arizona scored a lot of points on Stanford with a dual threat quarterback, so I think it is very possible to open up the passing game so much that the running game will be open eventually.