Notre Dame Football: 4 games to keep an eye on during the bye week
By Brad Weiss
Notre Dame Football: 4 games to keep an eye on during the bye week
Non-Conference games
Outside of the ACC, there are some huge games on the docket, and that is where the Irish really need to focus this weekend. With the Miami (FL) game being postponed, the Clemson game is the only one to worry about in the ACC, but outside of the conference, huge matchups will take place.
No. 9 Indiana and No. 3 Ohio State
In the marquee game of the weekend, the No. 9 Indiana Hoosiers will travel to the Shoe to take on the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes. A lot of pundits have the Buckeyes as a favorite to make it to the CFP national title game, and they will get their first real test on Saturday against the Hoosiers, who are the most surprising team in the Big Ten this season.
Kentucky at No. 1 Alabama
The Alabama Crimson Tide are the consensus top team in the country this season, and they have an easy on at home against Kentucky this weekend. Alabama does have No. 23 Auburn next week, but they are on a down year, so like Notre Dame, they have the chance to control their own destiny heading into their conference championship game in a few weeks.
No. 7 Cincinnati at UCF
The Cincinnati Bearcats have been one of the better surprises in college football this season, and are a team that no big program wants to see make the College Football Playoff. They are explosive on offense, but this weekend, they face a 5-2 UCF team that could shock them, especially playing at home.
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Ian Book and company can sit back and relax this weekend, as they start to prepare to take on a North Carolina team that is putting up points in bunches next weekend. North Carolina also has the week off, and with the Tar Heels starting to play a better brand of football in recent weeks, this is a game the Irish cannot afford to overlook.