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Notre Dame Football: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2019

By Connor Muldowney

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts in the second half against the Clemson Tigers during the College Football Playoff Semifinal Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts in the second half against the Clemson Tigers during the College Football Playoff Semifinal Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – OCTOBER 27: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish greets head coach Ken Niumatalolo the Navy Midshipmen at mid-field following their game at SDCCU Stadium on October 27, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kent Horner/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – OCTOBER 27: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish greets head coach Ken Niumatalolo the Navy Midshipmen at mid-field following their game at SDCCU Stadium on October 27, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kent Horner/Getty Images) /

Let’s face it, Notre Dame owns this series. The Irish are up 76-13-1 all-time against Navy but that doesn’t mean the Midshipmen don’t keep things interesting. They consistently play the Irish tough and this season will be no different despite the fact that Navy is coming off a rough season in which it missed out on a bowl game under Ken Niumatalolo.

Navy is back and motivated to make sure that type of mediocre play doesn’t continue and with Niumatalolo at the helm, it likely won’t.

Notre Dame won last season’s matchup by a wide margin in San Diego, but four of the past six in this series have been decided by 10 points or less. That will become five out of seven after this contest as the Midshipmen and Irish have a back-and-forth affair in South Bend.

The rushing attack of Navy will give Notre Dame issues while Ian Book will have one of his more average afternoons. It’ll take a late touchdown pass to Cole Kmet to break the tie for good as the Irish hang on for a heart-pounding victory.

Final Score: Navy 17, Notre Dame 24 (8-2)

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