Notre Dame Football: 3 bold predictions against upset-minded Navy

Notre Dame football’s second half push for an elusive undefeated season begins with a Week 9 matchup vs. Navy. Can the Irish stave off an upset?

The hope held earlier in the season has now made way for cautious optimism as the Irish look to continue what has been a hot start into the second half of their season. In what has developed into a potential catch-22 for the Irish, Notre Dame’s schedule does not feature a single ranked opponent. While a soft schedule paves a clear path to the playoff, it leaves little margin for error.

While Notre Dame’s wins over No. 14 Michigan, No. 7 Stanford, and No. 24 Virginia Tech should be more than enough to keep them in the top four should they win out, an undefeated season is anything but a given. With the likes of Northwestern, Florida St., Syracuse, and USC on the schedule, an outing similar to the Irish’s effort vs. Pitt won’t be enough to preserve a 12-0 season.

With that said, head coach Brian Kelly’s push for another National Championship bid starts this week vs. Navy. The Irish have dominated the Midshipmen under Kelly, holding a 6-2 series lead over the course of this stretch. Nevertheless, Navy has often taken the Irish down to the last whistle. Here are three bold predictions for the Irish as they look to keep hold of the Rip Miller Trophy.