Notre Dame Football: 5 reasons Irish will beat Stanford in Week 13

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PALO ALTO, CA – NOVEMBER 18: K.J. Costello #3 of the Stanford Cardinal celebrates after the Cardinal got a first down on a fourth down late in the fourth quarter that clinched their victory over the California Golden Bears at Stanford Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

4. Notre Dame’s defense will make life difficult for KJ Costello

Turnovers have been a staple of this Notre Dame defense all season long, but two weeks ago versus Miami, the Hurricanes bit the Fighting Irish with that same turnover bug. This team seems primed for another takeaway-riddled game against a young quarterback.

While KJ Costello has a bright future with Stanford, the sophomore is going to look like that first-year starter that he is against the Fighting Irish. Although he’s playing this big game at home, he will be rattled against one of the nation’s top-10 teams and it will show.

Notre Dame will get plenty of pressure on Costello and force him into some bad throws. Since he’s still a young quarterback and learning on the fly, he will throw some bad interceptions (meaning into double coverage) late in the game to seal it for the Irish.

On top of that, Notre Dame’s front-seven will be aggressive and blitz early and often. Don’t be surprised if Costello is on the run for most of the game. This Notre Dame defense is hungry after that Miami showing.

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