Staff Predictions for Notre Dame vs. Ball State

The Slap the Sign writers give their takes on how they thing tomorrow’s Ball State vs. Notre Dame game will go.

Welcome to another version of “staff predictions”, where the Slap the Sign writers predict the score of the upcoming Notre Dame football game and give an explanation as to how they arrived at their respective conclusions.

The staff did fairly well last week. Everyone predicted an Irish win and three of the writers nailed the exact number of points that Notre Dame ended up scoring.

Here’s what everyone had to say about this week’s game against Ball State.

Ben Belden

Notre Dame scores early and often throughout the first half and then tails off a little bit. Ball State hits on a couple big plays in the passing game, perhaps even on a broken play or two. Notre Dame ultimately wins this game 56-24, but the game doesn’t even feel that close.

Carlee North

After a huge win in one of college football’s biggest rivalries, you might expect a “hangover” game — but I don’t see that at all. Actually I think it’ll be a thrashing by the Irish. Brandon Wimbush has another solid performance, this time mainly through the air — seeing as they won’t want him to take off and run as much. I think we will see Ian Book in the third quarter and I’m hoping that true freshman Phil Jurkovec gets a shot to play in front of his home crowd. As for the defense, they have another dominant performance along the defensive line, coming up with a few sacks and are consistently in the backfield — forcing two turnovers in the process. Ball State will score late to pad the score a tad when the backups are in, but the Irish win handily 52-20.

Chase Eyrich

I think we will end up having the classic, “why didn’t Notre Dame win by more?” argument at the end of this game. The defense will easily get the job done and I don’t see the first unit on offense struggling at all. Where I see production slowing down is Brian Kelly obviously spreading the playing time around with other players and just experimenting overall. Notre Dame, 37-10.

Connor McJunkin

Ball State, while improved from a year ago, is only leaving South Bend with a nice paycheck. Notre Dame is bigger, faster, and stronger. This should be a great opportunity for the Irish to grow offensively and see some young guys make their collegiate debuts. Irish win 52-13.

Jack Leniart

The Irish will win this one comfortably. The offense should have no issue moving the ball, and I think Notre Dame will end up with at least one defensive or special teams touchdown in this contest. Ideally, the starters will be able to rest midway through the third quarter — giving the younger guys a chance to earn some valuable playing time. Notre Dame, 52-14.

Nathan Erbach

Notre Dame gets off to a quick start this weekend. The Irish limit Wimbush’s runs, but he throws for his best game in an Irish uniform (in only a little over a half of football). Book takes over mid-way through the third, and we even see a drive with Jurkovec at the helm. This one is never in question. Notre Dame, 52-13.

Paul Walsh

Ball State has a solid group of running backs, and a passer whose accuracy seems to be his bread and butter. However, I expect the same Irish defense to show up that did against Michigan — one  that stifled the Wolverine rushing attack and provided great coverage down field. Wimbush will get a chance to showcase his arm against the Cardinals defense and sprinkle in some of his signature gains on the ground. The starters will be out by half-time as the Irish roll. Notre Dame 49-10.

Sonny Martinez

I don’t really see how this is a close game. It may be through one quarter because of the excitement Ball State will have playing at Notre Dame Stadium. I just think Notre Dame has way too much size, speed, strength and experience and that’ll be too much for the Cardinals to overcome. Notre Dame wins, 48-6

J.P. Scott

Ball State is a team that does a lot of things that some other teams on the Notre Dame schedule do offensively. This will be good practice for the defense, and as the others writers mentioned, a good chance for some guys who are lower on the depth chart to get some valuable reps. I like the Irish big, 59-6.