Louisville-Clemson Highlights Vegas ACC Predictions Week 7

Saturday Blitz Vegas ACC Predictions Week 7

North Carolina Tar Heels at No. 6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Line: Notre Dame by 16.5

What might have been an intriguing match-up at the beginning of the year now looks like it could be one-sided. Notre Dame is a heavy favorite now, and rightfully so. If it’s going to live up to the hype, Brian Kelly’s offense needs to keep doing what it has been doing with Everett Golson back at quarterback. The passing game needs to be the focus, and they need to use Golson to throw all over the North Carolina secondary. The defense needs to stick with what it is doing as well, ranking No. 3 in the country with only 12 points per game given up. If Golson and the defense simply play their game and don’t make mistakes, North Carolina shouldn’t stand a chance.

UNC, meanwhile, has found a great quarterback in Marquise Williams, and they need him to turn this game into a shootout to have a chance on the road Saturday. Williams can play and leads the team in rushing and passing. If he can match Notre Dame score for score, which will be hard but is possible, then the Fighting Irish could be prone to making a mistake late in the game. UNC’s defense has to improve, though, for them to have any chance. It doesn’t have to be great, but even if Williams makes this a shootout, there’s no way it can be as bad as it has been and the team still win.

Prediction

Notre Dame and UNC will be locked in a shootout in the first half. UNC won’t be able to keep up. The Fighting Irish will have a field day with that weak North Carolina defense, and Golson will put up lots of touchdowns, possibly launching himself into the Heisman conversation. Expect an easy win from Notre Dame.

Notre Dame: 52 North Carolina: 31