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

1. The Clemson defensive front will test the Notre Dame O-Line quite a bit.

The Notre Dame offensive line has been quite strong. As a result, Ian Book has been an extremely strong quarterback because his line has protected him from anything and everything that life and football has thrown at him. Okay, maybe not life, but at least football. However, now they have to take on the Clemson defensive front that has been extremely good and that is putting it lightly.

Clemson allows 2.4 yards a carry in terms of the rushing attack. That is an extremely low number that has the Notre Dame offense cringing I can promise you that. Even worse, the Tigers rank third nationally in sacks and 2nd in tackles for loss. In 9 of their 13 games, they have had at least nine tackles for loss. That is a staggering statistic.

Can Notre Dame escape the clutches of a group of players that are very likely going to be first and second round draft picks on that front line of the Tigers? Can the offensive line for the Irish stand up to Clemson? The Texas A&M line did- to a point of course. So did South Carolina for a hot minute.

If Clemson wins this game, it will be due to another super game from the defensive front that has made the Tigers what they are today, no matter how good Trevor Lawrence has been week in and week out.