Notre Dame Football vs Alabama Crimson Tide: Picks and Predictions

Notre Dame football vs. Alabama picks and predictions

Andrew Hall

“What though the odds be great or small.“ When these words were written in 1908, athletes like Devonta Smith and Najee Harris were not playing college football. The Notre Dame legend is built on winning in this situation, however, the odds are too great to overcome this time.

Notre Dame 24, Alabama 41

Daniel Morrison

Unfortunately, there’s a reason that Notre Dame isn’t being given much of a shot to beat Alabama. Alabama is more talented and deeper at almost every position, their offense, though it’s received fewer accolades than last season’s LSU, is explosive and stacked with talent. Notre Dame might be able to put up some points but stopping Alabama might be impossible.

Notre Dame 27, Alabama 45

Carlee North

Notre Dame is in the playoffs, but they now have to face one of Nick Saban’s most explosive teams. The Irish defense will need to get pressure on Alabama quarterback Mac Jones and force the Crimson Tide to kick field goals in the red zone. Offensively, Notre Dame needs to control the game clock and be efficient in the red zone, themselves.

Ian Book must take care of the football and be near-perfect with his decision making. That’s not too much to ask, right? Look, no one thinks Notre Dame can take down Alabama. It’s not an easy task by any means, but it’s also not impossible. At the end of the day, Alabama is just too good. I don’t see the Crimson Tide slowing down on their way to their next national championship.

Notre Dame 28, Alabama 41

Connor McJunkin

It’s safe to say there’s a lot of concern heading into this matchup with Alabama after the last showing by Notre Dame. It was unfortunately a game Irish fans have become all too familiar with, as the defense looked flat, and the offense reverted to its look from the beginning of the season.

It’s impressive in itself for ND to be back in the CFP for the second time in three years, but like in 2018, they’re matched up with the best team in college football by far.

These are the games that the Irish need to be competitive in and show that the talent gap is shrinking between them and CFB elites. Ian Book, Tommy Rees, and the offense will have to put together their best performance of the season for the Irish to have a shot.

Clark Lea is a defensive mastermind, but I do not see the Irish slowing down the three-headed monster of Alabama’s offense. A special teams TD or a big play, and some lucky breaks will have to go Notre Dame’s way to have a shot, but I just don’t see it.

Ian Book and this impressive senior class will end their Irish careers with a loss in the Rose Bowl.

Notre Dame 28, Alabama 52

Jack Leniart

We could spend days talking about all of the reasons why Notre Dame will lose to Alabama on Friday. Regardless of the evidence and facts laid out in front of me, my fandom always overpowers my reason when the Irish take the field. Following what has been an objectively bad year, I am hoping we can start 2021 with a little bit of magic.

Screw the pundits and analysts. Time to shock the world.

Notre Dame 35, Alabama 34