Notre Dame Football: Game-by-game predicitions for 2018

The Fighting Irish head into their relatively late week off with a 7-0 record. They haven’t headed into their Bye Week this late into the season undefeated under Brian Kelly. So, it’s a refreshing start. However, when you look ahead, the road isn’t exactly paved in blue and gold.

Their season ends on a path that they have to be well prepared for. It’s going to be a tough path. They have three tough games in their final five to end the season (and yes I am including Navy in those tough games.)

Notre Dame wants to be a contender for the national title, and they will have to navigate the end of their schedule carefully. The season ends in Los Angeles, and that game may determine whether the Fighting Irish make it to either the Orange or Cotton Bowl or one of the New Year’s Six bowls as a consolation.

In the end, if Kelly wants to lead a team to the national title for the first time in his career, he will have to win most of these games. Even this late in the season, a loss to Navy, Florida State, or USC wouldn’t completely devastate their chances at a title, depending on how bad the loss is. They do, however, have to beat Northwestern and Syracuse, otherwise, their CFP chances go up in smoke.