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Notre Dame Football: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2020

By Connor Muldowney

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: Braden Lenzy #25 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish catches a pass during the Camping World Bowl against the Iowa State Cyclones at Camping World Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. Notre Dame defeated Iowa State 33-9. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: Braden Lenzy #25 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish catches a pass during the Camping World Bowl against the Iowa State Cyclones at Camping World Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. Notre Dame defeated Iowa State 33-9. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 12: Kedon Slovis #9 of the USC Trojans gets tackled from behind by Julian Okwara #42 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during a game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 12, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated USC 30-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 12: Kedon Slovis #9 of the USC Trojans gets tackled from behind by Julian Okwara #42 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during a game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 12, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated USC 30-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

This is the point in the season where you’re left asking yourself, “Why doesn’t Notre Dame just join the ACC already?” The Irish will be facing their fifth straight opponent from the conference and Louisville may be the second-best ACC team they see all year.

The Cardinals, now led by Scott Satterfield, had a shockingly successful 2019 season but fell short against Notre Dame early in the season. While they should be just as good, if not better, in 2020, I think the Irish will be just too much at home here.

Satterfield’s team will put up a heck of a fight, especially with that potent offense ready to explode at any moment, but Notre Dame holds on late.

Final Score: Louisville 24, Notre Dame 33 (10-1)

A couple of years ago, Notre Dame needed a win over USC on the road to earn a bid to the College Football Playoff and the same will happen this time around.

The Irish will be 10-1 and a win could cement a top-four spot with no conference title game to worry about, but the Trojans have found their quarterback of the future in Kedon Slovis and Clay Helton may be coaching for his job in this one.

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The Trojans aren’t going to lie down this time around as Notre Dame and USC play in a classic rivalry battle that goes down to the wire. USC gets the last laugh here.

Final Score: Notre Dame 31, USC 34 (11-1)

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