Notre Dame football vs Stanford: Bold predictions in Week 7
By Andrew Hall
The Notre Dame football team hopes to continue its winning streak against the Stanford Cardinal under the lights of Notre Dame Stadium.
For the past two Notre Dame football games, this writer went six-for-six over the past two weeks worth of bold predictions. Conclusion, need bolder predictions. Here are this week’s bold predictions for the tilt against the Stanford Cardinal.
Notre Dame football vs Stanford: Bold predictions in Week 7
Notre Dame will score a first quarter touchdown.
In five games this season, the Notre Dame football team failed to score a touchdown in the first quarter in all games. After watching the Irish offensive performance in the first three contests, this statistic is not surprising.
However, after the squad started to roll, it is crazy that Notre Dame failed to score in the opening period in the next two games. Stanford ranks 110th in scoring defense. With Notre Dame’s offense continuing to grow in efficiency, a first quarter touchdown will certainly happen.
The Irish backfield will feature two 100-yard rushers.
Is this the same Stanford football program that regularly mashed its way to ten wins per year by beating opponents into a pulp? Unfortunately, for David Shaw, no. The Cardinal currently rank 121st in rushing defense – yielding 207 yards per game.
The trio of Audric Estime, Logan Diggs, and Chris Tyree are licking their chops at the opportunity to go against a soft Stanford defense. Two of the three will find their way to the century mark on Saturday night.
Notre Dame will force multiple turnovers.
Somehow, the Notre Dame defense is still seeking its first multiple-turnover game of the season. The two lone turnovers this season were a fumble recovery against North Carolina and an interception against BYU.
This season, Stanford has lost 13 turnovers (five interceptions, eight fumbles) in five contests. Eventually, Notre Dame will progress to the mean and begin to force more turnovers. The Irish currently rank dead last in the FBS in turnovers forced. This seems likely a spot for it to happen.