Notre Dame Football: 5 bold predictions for Cotton Bowl vs Clemson

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 01: Austin Bryant #7 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates with the trophy after their ACC Championship game win against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Clemson won 42-10. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

2 of 6

(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

5. Being a massive underdog will help Notre Dame

It is no secret that the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame are the underdogs in this one. They have struggled throughout the season against less than formidable opponents. We all remember that this team struggled against the likes of the Vanderbilt Commodores, and they weren’t exactly the best of the best in terms of the SEC that much is for sure.

They don’t have a conference championship as they are an independent and not a member of a conference at all. No one is giving them a chance- not the fans and not Vegas. The last time the Irish played in a championship game, they were absolutely walloped by Alabama in 2012. This could be their chance to avenge that.

I’m not going to make arguments about strength of schedule or anything like that- but Notre Dame is very much the underdog here and that could be a big thing for the Irish. The underdog has no pressure and nothing to lose. If the Irish come out playing loose they’ll have more than a puncher’s chance to stay in this one.

Home/Clemson Tigers