Notre Dame Football: Q & A with a Georgia Expert

We had a chance to bounce some questions off a Georgia expert ahead of Saturday night’s big matchup between Notre Dame and the Bulldogs.

The game between Notre Dame and Georgia this Saturday has the potential to be one of the most impactful of the 2019 season in terms of the College Football Playoff picture. National pundits around the country have weighed in. Now, it’s time to talk to someone close to the fire.

We were able to bounce some questions about this weekend’s matchup off Savannah Leigh, site expert for Dawn of the Dawg and sports reporter for The Brunswick News (Georgia).

Here’s how that went down.

Slap the Sign: Georgia is favored by about two touchdowns. Notre Dame has come under fire recently for not being able to win big games. Which team is under more pressure to win this one and why?

Savannah Leigh: I think that the pressure is equal for both of these teams. Georgia’s got a point to prove and so does Notre Dame. This game has a ton of hype surrounding it and both teams need to prove themselves.

STS: From what you’ve seen, heard and read about Notre Dame, which player should concern Georgia fans most heading into the game and why?

SL: Ian Book probably. He’s a great quarterback and a playmaker. Book is a veteran and knows how to carry his team in big game situations. He’s going to use his legs and arm to make plays against the Dawgs. 

STS: Which under-the-radar Georgia player should Notre Dame fans be looking at as a guy who could catch the Irish by surprise and have a big day?

SL: Matt Landers (WR) could have a big day catching the ball. He’s been working his tail off all offseason and has improved a lot. Then there is Nolan Smith (DE), who isn’t necessarily under-the-radar, but he’s someone who I think will show out on Saturday. 

STS: Do you feel like the loser of this game is automatically eliminated from College Football Playoff contention? Does the score matter at all in that regard?

SL: If Notre Dame loses, then yes. If Georgia loses, then no. I think Georgia’s got enough competition on its schedule that, if they lost, they could win out and still be considered. If Georgia wins by two or more touchdowns, then it’ll be a dominant win — so it’ll matter. If it’s close, it could end up not mattering unless both teams win out. 

STS: Give us your final score prediction and how it gets there.

SL: Georgia wins, 42-21. The Irish keep it close until the third quarter, when Georgia’s depth takes over. Not to mention the 12th man — Georgia’s crowd will be deafening and cause Book to make some mistakes.