No. 16 Notre Dame might be seeking 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 Combating Irish’s School 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 group on Notre Dame’s schedule earlier than the Combating Irish’s season finale at USC on Nov. 30. And because the Irish realized in 2023, coach Jeff Brohm’s group presents a troublesome 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 Combating Irish’s run recreation and profitable the turnover battle 5-1.
Stopping the run will once more be vital 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 lightweight begin to their schedule, which included a Week 3 bye, this may clearly be Louisville’s hardest take a look at but.
watch Notre Dame vs. Louisville dwell
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 collection 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 via 4 video games. The Combating Irish might want to keep buttoned up towards the Cardinals and make them maintain drives of their first true street recreation of the season.
Maintaining them sincere: Can Notre Dame pressure Louisville’s protection to respect the move? Leonard ranks No. 116 nationally in air yards per try at 6.7 because the Combating Irish have opted largely for dink and dunk throws whereas counting on their run recreation and protection. The Cardinals held former Notre Dame working again Audric Estime to twenty yards on 10 speeding makes an attempt in final 12 months’s assembly. Thus far this season, opposing quarterbacks have had extra success working towards Louisville than opposing working backs. Leonard can actually harm Louisville along with his legs. However can he maintain the Cardinals sincere towards the move?
Assertion alternative: The strain is on Notre Dame, which is attempting to keep away from a second September residence loss. For Louisville, this can be a assertion alternative. Even when the Cardinals lose, a profitable encore to final 12 months’s 10-4 season will stay attainable. 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 School Soccer Playoff consideration.
Notre Dame vs. Louisville prediction, picks
Notre Dame has turned the web page since shedding at residence to Northern Illinois in Week 2. The Combating 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 group. That is far and away the hardest protection that Louisville has confronted, and the Cardinals might 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 via with the assistance of Leonard’s dual-threat potential. Decide: Notre Dame -6.5
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