Notre Dame Football First Look: Virginia Cavaliers

Conclusion

The Virginia Cavaliers have their work cut out for them this Saturday in South Bend. They have yet to face a truly notable opponent and haven’t stood out in any meaningful ways. While there is a wealth of experience on both sides of the ball — most importantly at quarterback — there is no reason to think that Saturday’s contest will be a nail-biter.

The Irish defense, which appeared to have finally found its identity last Saturday, will likely take advantage of poor pass protection and a turnover-prone quarterback. On the other side of the ball, it’s difficult to predict how well the Cavalier defense will be able to contain Ian Book and the Notre Dame offense, but they will certainly have their hands full.

The difference in the game will likely be the play of senior quarterback Bryce Perkins. Since it’s safe to assume the Irish offense will put up points, it will be imperative that Perkins captains an efficient and effective attack. If the Cavaliers are able to get the Notre Dame secondary on their heels through the air, it will open up opportunities on the ground to establish a more balanced attack.

In all likelihood, however, the Irish will control this game from start to finish. Virginia doesn’t possess the sort of game-changing talent to pull off this upset, and while they may come out of the gates firing, look for the Irish to wrest control of this game and ultimately secure the victory.