Notre Dame Football: 3 Bold Predictions vs. Pitt

Notre Dame will force three turnovers

Last season, the Irish completed this feat four times. And the Irish are thankful for that considering, they only forced three more turnovers than they committed.

This season, the defense is much stronger as a whole — already forcing 11 turnovers compared to the six that the offense has given up. The Irish have forced multiple turnovers in four of the first six games.

This is bad news for Pitt, who has given up three turnovers in two games already.

From the linebackers Drue Tranquil and Te’von Coney to the secondary with Julian Love and the pressure of Khalid Kareem and the defensive front, this is a complete defensive unit.

While Pitt has earned quality wins over Georgia Tech and Syracuse and could have beat North Carolina, the reality is that this team can struggle at times. They will, however, find some success in the rushing game.

Qadree Ollison is a solid running back. He’s already picked up 596 rushing yards this season with a 6.5-yard average. He’s a powerful back with jets for his 6-2, 225-pound structure. Behind a strong offensive line, the ball is most secure with him. He’s the reason Pitt found success versus Syracuse.

But, Syracuse doesn’t have the front seven that Notre Dame has, which could quickly slow the run game down.

Notre Dame should be able to find ways to quickly pressure Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett. The passing game hasn’t been a strong suit of the Panthers this season. Pickett has only thrown for 61 percent completion and the Panthers have not exceeded 200 yards in the air yet.

On paper, the Irish have the advantage in almost every category. As long as Notre Dame doesn’t let off the gas, they should have no problem finding ways to wreak havoc and force plenty of turnovers.