Notre Dame football: 3 Bold predictions vs. Alabama Crimson Tide

Najee Harris Will Dominate the Irish

Clark Lea recently pointed out that the goal of a defense is to play left-handed, which is to say, don’t let an opponent’s strengths beat you. The issue is that Alabama has two right hands as they can run and throw, and they can block and they can get open.

There are no weaknesses to exploit, and they make you pay with points every time that you’re not perfect.

This leaves the question, who do the Irish take away from Alabama. The goal has to be to limit the deep passes, particularly because the Crimson Tide have Heisman finalists at quarterback and wide receiver. Instead, Notre Dame will likely prefer to make Alabama earn everything on the ground by giving the ball to stud running back Najee Harris.

Against Florida in the SEC Championship Game, Harris had 178 yards and two touchdowns. His best game was against Ole Miss when he had 206 yards and five touchdowns, and now, he’s the option Notre Dame will want to force Alabama to win on the back of, and he will punish the Irish for that.

Harris is going to run for at least 150 yards and two touchdowns against Notre Dame, and it could easily be worse if Notre Dame doesn’t adjust to the Alabama rushing game, but that would leave the secondary exposed to the long passing game.