Notre Dame football vs. Cincinnati Bearcats: 4 Bold predictions in Week 5
![SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 11: Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is seen before the game against the Toledo Rockets at Notre Dame Stadium on September 11, 2021 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 11: Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is seen before the game against the Toledo Rockets at Notre Dame Stadium on September 11, 2021 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/d3e12bbbd36baaa6b10ad42db73d25027bafd7d16eb1b647a8d17d25752273e8.jpg)
The Notre Dame football team takes on the Cincinnati Bearcats in Week 5 of the 2021 college football season, and here are some bold predictions.
This Saturday’s game between Notre Dame football and Cincinnati is no normal game between a Group of Five school and Notre Dame. It’s a game between two top-10 schools, and make no mistake, both teams belong.
For both teams, this is a Playoff game, and it should be treated as such.
Most people expect this to be a low-scoring, defensive battle, and they’re probably right. Both teams have elite defensive lines and NFL-caliber players in their secondaries. Both teams have experienced and capable quarterbacks, but they’re playing behind struggling offensive lines. The talent at running back struggles behind those same offensive line issues.
In a lot of ways, these two programs mirror each other in their build, while simply playing at different levels within FBS football. Still, it’s led them both to this game, and it’s going to be a battle for the Irish to win. Cincinnati is 34-6 since 2018 when Ridder took over at quarterback.
In that same period, Notre Dame is 37-5.
With all of that being said, there are a lot of great coaches and players involved in this game. Because of that, there is plenty to pick from when making four bold predictions for Notre Dame vs. Cincinnati this Saturday: