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

SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 18: (L-R) Jonathan Bonner #55, Jay Hayes #93 and Jerry Tillery #99 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrate a defensive stop on 4th down against the Navy Midshipmen at Notre Dame Stadium on November 18, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Navy 24-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

2. Josh Adams is good enough to out-duel Bryce Love

If there’s been a running back on Stanford’s schedule this year who is good enough to negate the production of Bryce Love, it has to be Notre Dame’s Josh Adams. On top of that, Notre Dame’s run defense has been more effective than Stanford’s this season, making Love’s job that much tougher.

Adams struggled mightily against Wake Forest and Miami, rushing 21 times for a total of 62 yards and no touchdowns. He bounced back against Navy for a 100-yard performance, but hasn’t scored a touchdown since Oct. 28 against NC State. That will change in this one.

Against Stanford’s defense, Adams will break out again for 150-plus yards and Love will just crack 100, but he will be held in check, for the most part. Both running backs have bright futures, but on Saturday night, it’s going to be the Adams show.

Oh yeah, and Adams has a history against Stanford. He had his best game during his freshman season against the Cardinal, rushing 18 times for 168 yards and a touchdown and was held in check last year. He wants revenge for last year’s defeat and shaky performance, and he will get it for his second 150-plus yard game against Stanford in three years.

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