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Why the Notre Dame football team will beat Marshall in Week 2

By Brad Weiss

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish smiles during the first half of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at State Farm Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cowboys defeated the Fighting Irish 37-35. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish smiles during the first half of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at State Farm Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cowboys defeated the Fighting Irish 37-35. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /
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The Notre Dame football team is heavy favorites against Marshall in Week 2, and here is why they will come away with the victory.

The Notre Dame football team will hit the home field for the first time in 2022 this Saturday, as they take on the Marshall Thundering Herd inside Notre Dame Stadium. The Irish are coming off a tough 21-10 loss at the hands of Ohio State in Week 1, a team that many feel will be a College Football Playoff participant this season.

Now, the Irish will face a foe where they will not be such a heavy underdog, and are 20.5-point favorites according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Playing at home, the Irish have a distinct advantage, as Notre Dame Stadium is sold out for this matchup, and should be rocking, hoping to get Marcus Freeman his first win as head coach.

Though Marshall goes into this game with the better record, here is why the Irish will come away with the victory.

Why the Notre Dame football team will beat Marshall in Week 2

Talent

Looking at these two rosters, it is clear to see why the Irish are such big favorites in this matchup. Sure, Marshall has a solid rushing attack, with two guys going over 100 yards against Norfolk State last week, but they are certainly not going to have the rushing lanes in this one that they did against an FCS school a week ago.

Notre Dame football has multiple players on the roster that are considered first-round prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft, and when teams with this kind of disparity get together, it is usually a blowout. I believe the Irish talent will shine through against Marshall, and that will be the ultimate difference in this one.

Coaching

The Irish also have an advantage when it comes to the coaching staff, as Marcus Freeman has put together an incredible group around him. Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees is a head coach in waiting, and defensive coordinator Al Golden is one of the best in the business.

On Saturday, you can expect this three-headed monster to put together a game plan that is going to stifle the Marshall rushing attack. If forced to throw, the Irish secondary should be very opportunistic, getting turnovers and putting this game away early.

Atmosphere

The bottom line is, that it is going to be electric inside Notre Dame Stadium in Week 2, as Marcus Freeman makes his home debut as the head coach of the Irish. This is a game that is already sold out, so you can expect it to be loud and an atmosphere that will be hard for a lesser team to overcome.

The Irish should roll to victory in this one, showing the home crowd what this team is capable of doing all season long. Sure, they have some tougher battles ahead of them on the 2022 schedule, but the first win is always the hardest, and the Irish need to go into this matchup and take care of business.

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