5 Potential Trap Games for Notre Dame in 2019

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on in the first half against the Clemson Tigers during the College Football Playoff Semifinal Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on in the first half against the Clemson Tigers during the College Football Playoff Semifinal Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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2. Boston College

In the second to last week of 2019, Steve Addazio’s club heads to South Bend. Boston College is never an easy team to beat. They hammer opponents and break them down physically. Last season they played the Tigers tighter than the Irish did. This season, the Eagles have more experience.

AJ Dillon is the ACC’s best running back, and Boston College is always ready to play Notre Dame. There’s no reason that Notre Dame should look past Boston College, except for the fact that the Irish travel to Stanford the following week.

Stanford is another smash mouth team that has given the Irish fits in recent memory. There’s also a chance that Stanford will be heading into the PAC-12 title game, only adding to the excitement and hype surrounding the game.

Additionally, Notre Dame plays Navy the week before. Navy’s triple option is going to force Notre Dame into a physical game. They’ll cut the Irish defensive line’s legs out from under them. The Irish will be exhausted, and can’t afford to think Boston College will be a breather. In that way, this game is both a trap game and a potential letdown game.