Notre Dame Football: 5 reasons Irish will beat LSU in 2018 Citrus Bowl

1. Brian Kelly has more on the line than ever before

While Kelly hasn’t always been known for playing his best when his back’s against the wall, this might just be the game that puts some of those doubts behind him. Kelly, perhaps more than any other coach, is notorious for his inability to beat big teams in big moments. However, with his job potentially on the line, look for Kelly to put his best foot forward in this one.

Now, with all this pressure on Kelly, I see this game going one of two ways. Either Kelly manages to keep the significance of the situation out of his head or crumbles similarly to how he did against both Miami and Stanford. Regardless of which scenario comes to pass, the results are sure to blatantly reflect it.

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Kelly has certainly had his fair share of ups and downs during his time at Notre Dame, so it makes sense that fans would have mixed feelings on him. But after year after year of poor finishes, this game may mean more for Kelly’s future than many would think. Regardless, look for an inspired effort from a teach playing for their coach.