Notre Dame Football: 5 reasons Irish will beat LSU in 2018 Citrus Bowl
By Jacob Wilson
2. Notre Dame’s red zone efficiency gives them the edge
One of the most impressive stats for the Irish this season has been their efficiency in the red zone. In fact, Notre Dame had a good streak going for them as they went a number of games without missing out on a red zone opportunity. This number stretched well into the twenties before coming to an end, showing just how great this team has been at converting red zone opportunities.
In a game as close as this one is projected to be, efficiency is key. If the Irish want a chance at taking down LSU, they’re going to have to maintain their poise. This is a fairly inexperienced team on the offensive side of the ball, so any swing in momentum could derail the entire team (see the Miami game).
One of the keys to Notre Dame’s success in the red zone has been kicker Justin Yoon’s success at converting his field goals. Don’t be surprised to see the Irish pull this one out if they continue to find success in their special teams play.