Notre Dame vs. Georgia Gameday Primer
Everything you need to know before No.7 Notre Dame takes on No.3 Georgia.
The game both Notre Dame and Georgia fans have looked forward to since September 9, 2017 is finally here.
Notre Dame comes in looking to exact revenge on the team that defeated them in heartbreaking fashion back in 2017, as Georgia got the ‘W’ in South Bend, 20-19. In that game, Notre Dame held their own with a Georgia team that was heavily favored.
Can they do it again?
Kickoff: 8:00 pm EST
Channel: CBS
Location: Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA
Line: Georgia -14
Weather: At kickoff it will be about 74 degrees with 74 percent humidity. The forecast shows the chance of rain at 10 percent and winds ranging from 3-5 mph from the ESE.
Series history: Georgia leads 2-0. The teams have met in the 1981 Sugar Bowl and in a regular season matchup in 2017.
Top storylines: There is no doubt that the major storyline of this week and this game is how Notre Dame will handle the hostile environment inside of Sanford Stadium. The Irish traditionally struggle in tough environments and this one will be no different. Notre Dame will have to be poised and mentally strong in order to block out the raucous Georgia crowd.
Another storyline heading into this matchup is Georgia being favored by -14 on the betting lines. There has been outrage by Notre Dame fans who feel this is disrespectful and that their team is better than that. It’s not too often that a matchup between two Top 10 teams has a spread this large, but if anything, it is motivation for the Irish to come out with a chip on their shoulder and play hard.
Lastly, Notre Dame starting tight end Cole Kmet is back. Kmet suffered a collarbone injury during camp in August and has not made an appearance for the Irish yet this season. Brian Kelly stated in his press conference Tuesday that Kmet will definitely play, but he did not confirm whether or not Kmet would start the game. Regardless, having the stud tight end back is huge for Notre Dame and allows them to do a lot more things offensively. Kmet is an outstanding pass-catcher and can also block at a very high level.
Injury report:
- Notre Dame junior WR Michael Young is still recovering from a broken collarbone. There has been no news on Young’s progress other than that he is still healing and recovering.
- Notre Dame junior RB Jafar Armstrong is nursing a groin injury that kept him out of all but two series against Louisville and all of the New Mexico game. Armstrong will not play against Georgia.
- Notre Dame redshirt freshman RB Jahmir Smith is dealing with a sprained toe and did not play against New Mexico. “We’ll get him running on Monday,” said Brian Kelly during his press conference. “We’re moving in the right direction there. We’re hopeful there.” Smith is likely to play against Georgia.
- Georgia starting WRs Tyler Simmons (shoulder) and Demetris Robertson (leg) are struggling with injuries but are expected to be ready to play.
- Georgia sophomore OT Isaiah Wilson has missed the last two games with a sprained ankle and is questionable to play against Notre Dame.
- Georgia sophomore CB Tyson Campbell missed most of the game against Arkansas State after suffering a foot injury. His status for Notre Dame is unknown. One to keep an eye on.
Key Offensive Player for Georgia: Jake Fromm, QB
Yes, somehow Jake Fromm is only a junior and yes he is still playing for Georgia. Fromm is one of those guys that feels like he has been playing in college for an eternity but is still around. He has an AJ McCarron or Grayson Allen from Duke men’s basketball feel to him. Makes you want to ask, how are you still around?!
Anyways, he is still there and he is the key to Georgia beating Notre Dame. It was between Fromm and RB D’Andre Swift for Key Offensive Player, but Fromm edged out Swift. Swift is going to ‘get his’ with this ridiculous Georgia O-line, but Fromm’s decision-making down the stretch is going to be what wins or loses this ballgame for the Bulldogs.
On the season, Fromm is 42-56 for 601 yards and 5 TDs. Fromm’s stats don’t pop off the stat sheet by any means, but the plays he does make through the air are vital to what Georgia does offensively. Because Georgia’s running game and offensive line are so strong, Fromm has not needed to throw the ball deep often and has fell into somewhat of a game-manager role for the Bulldogs.
If he runs the offense the way he has during his career at Georgia — and there’s no reason to think he won’t — he is going to cause problems for the Irish defense.
Key Offensive Player for Notre Dame: Tony Jones Jr., RB
You were probably expecting to see Ian Book here, right?
Tony Jones Jr. is going to be much more key to what Notre Dame wants to do offensively — no doubt about it.
The Notre Dame offensive line has not been nearly what anyone expected this season and did not look good against New Mexico last week. It should have been able to move the New Mexico defensive line around with ease, but that didn’t happen. The Irish managed only 157 yards on the ground and 46 of those came from Ian Book — who was also the team’s leading rusher.
That can’t happen in this game. Notre Dame scoring on multiple big plays through the air made it difficult to have long, sustained drives to run the ball, but it must improve.
Notre Dame running back totals ended up like this:
- Kyren Williams – 4 carries, 26 yards
- Tony Jones Jr. – 6 carries, 17 yards
- Mick Assaf – 3 carries, 8 yards
- C’Bo Flemister – 7 carries, -2 yards, 1 TD
Not having Jafar Armstrong or Jahmir Smith involved in this game certainly changes things, but Notre Dame is going to have to establish the run in order to stand a chance against Georgia. Tony Jones Jr. is going to need to run hard and with authority, and just overall have a great game for the Irish.
Kyren Williams and C’Bo Flemister will get carries, but Jones will get the most and will need to be the most impactful.
Key Defensive Player for Georgia: J.R. Reed, S
Ever since transferring from Tulsa in 2016, J.R. Reed has been a star player in the Georgia secondary. He was forced to sit out the 2016 season, but has started in every game for the Bulldogs since. Reed holds down the back-half of the Georgia defense and will be looking to prevent Ian Book and the Notre Dame offense from moving the ball through the air.
Last season Reed was targeted 33 times, allowing 22 catches for 189 yards and one touchdown, with two interceptions and two pass breakups.
This season, Reed has racked up 11 tackles (4 solo) and one fumble recovery. He will be key to what Georgia wants to do defensively as the leader of a relatively young secondary. He will need to make some key plays down the stretch to get his team the ‘W’.
Key Defensive Player for Notre Dame: Julian Okwara, DE
Slated as a projected first-round pick heading into this season, Okwara has not exactly played like it. Through two games, Okwara has just two tackles. That’s not good enough.
In order for the Irish to pull off this major upset in Athens, Okwara will need to play MUCH better. He has not pressured the QB as much as he has in past years and has nearly been invisible at times. The Georgia offensive line will be the best Notre Dame sees this season and Okwara is going to need to show how good he can be when he is matched up with the best.
As a whole, Notre Dame has been largely unable to stop the run and Okwara is going to be a key to doing that. If the Irish haven’t been able to stop Louisville and New Mexico on the ground, Georgia is going to be a major challenge for the defense.
Next. A Legacy Game for Kelly. dark
Surely Clark Lea and Brian Kelly have looked to find solutions to stop the run and that starts with Okwara. D’Andre Swift and the strong Georgia O-line will be chomping at the bit to try to run all over the Irish, and as a captain, Julian Okwara needs to be one of those that doesn’t let that happen.