No. 16 Notre Dame might be trying to actual some revenge because it performs host to No. 15 Louisville on Saturday in what could possibly be thought of a must-win recreation for the Preventing Irish’s Faculty Soccer Playoff hopes. A Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois and a weak schedule leaves Notre Dame with little room for error, which heightens the significance of this top-20 showdown.
The Cardinals are the final ranked crew on Notre Dame’s schedule earlier than the Preventing Irish’s season finale at USC on Nov. 30. And because the Irish discovered in 2023, coach Jeff Brohm’s crew presents a tricky matchup. Louisville improved to 6-0 final season with a 33-20 win over Notre Dame, which was ranked No. 10 on the time. The Cardinals did it by shutting down the Preventing Irish’s run recreation and profitable the turnover battle 5-1.
Stopping the run will once more be important to Louisville’s hopes as Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard has but to surpass 200 yards passing in a recreation this season. Louisville counters with seventh-year senior Tyler Shough, who enters ranked No. 6 nationally passing effectivity with eight touchdowns and no interceptions.
Shough’s begin has been spectacular, and the Cardinals look stout defensively. However after a light-weight begin to their schedule, which included a Week 3 bye, it will clearly be Louisville’s hardest take a look at but.
Easy methods to watch Notre Dame vs. Louisville stay
Date: Saturday, Sept. 28 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Notre Dame Stadium — South Bend, Ind.
Stay stream: Peacock
Notre Dame vs. Louisville: Have to know
Limiting the explosives: Louisville’s 31-19 win over Georgia Tech to open ACC play final week was highlighted by a sequence of explosive passing performs as Shough related on 4 throws of 35-plus yards, together with two that went for touchdowns. It was a boom-or-bust day for the Cardinals, as 55.5% of their whole yards got here on these 4 performs. Whereas Notre Dame ranks No. 5 nationally in whole protection, it has allowed 9 performs of 35-plus yards and 4 performs of 50-plus by means of 4 video games. The Preventing Irish might want to keep buttoned up towards the Cardinals and make them maintain drives of their first true street recreation of the season.
Holding them sincere: Can Notre Dame power Louisville’s protection to respect the cross? Leonard ranks No. 116 nationally in air yards per try at 6.7 because the Preventing Irish have opted principally for dink and dunk throws whereas counting on their run recreation and protection. The Cardinals held former Notre Dame operating again Audric Estime to twenty yards on 10 speeding makes an attempt in final yr’s assembly. Up to now this season, opposing quarterbacks have had extra success operating towards Louisville than opposing operating backs. Leonard can definitely damage Louisville along with his legs. However can he hold the Cardinals sincere towards the cross?
Assertion alternative: The stress is on Notre Dame, which is attempting to keep away from a second September dwelling loss. For Louisville, this can be a assertion alternative. Even when the Cardinals lose, a profitable encore to final yr’s 10-4 season will stay doable. If the Cardinals win, it can signify they’re on the identical tier as Miami and Clemson within the ACC. A win right here would additionally ratchet up the Cardinals’ hopes of crafting an at-large resume for Faculty Soccer Playoff consideration.
Notre Dame vs. Louisville prediction, picks
Notre Dame has turned the web page since dropping at dwelling to Northern Illinois in Week 2. The Preventing Irish confirmed what they’re able to in a 66-7 win at Purdue on Sept. 28 and might be motivated to reward their followers with a win over a top-15 Louisville crew. That is far and away the hardest protection that Louisville has confronted, and the Cardinals could wrestle to create the explosive performs that fueled their win over Georgia Tech final week. Search for Notre Dame’s protection to frustrate Louisville and finally break by means of with the assistance of Leonard’s dual-threat capacity. Decide: Notre Dame -6.5
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