Notre Dame Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2020

In another potential trap game for the Irish, Louisville will come to town looking for an upset and to knock the Irish out of the playoff race.

Louisville is a program on the rise under Scott Satterfield and will be looking to improve upon their surprising eight-win season a year ago. The Cardinals have an explosive and efficient offense, led by wide receiver Tutu Atwell and they can give any defense a headache.

This a possible upset here, with Notre Dame having a big game against rival USC the following week and the Irish might be caught sleep walking heading into this one. I think this will be a tight game that will come down to the last possession, but Ian Book will find a way to win his last home game.

Final Score: Notre Dame 38, Louisville 35 (10-1)

One of the most traditional rivalries in college football, USC and Notre have combined for over 20 national championships and 13 Heisman Trophy winners, but this game has not had significant meaning in quite sometime and both teams will be looking to change that in 2020.

I believe that Notre Dame will enter this game with just one loss and this could be for a potential birth in the College Football Playoff.

What USC’s record is heading into this game is anyone’s guess. The Trojans return an awful lot of talent, especially on the offensive side of the ball, but they also face one of the most challenging schedules in the country with games against Alabama, Oregon, Utah and Washington on the slate before the rivalry game against the Irish.

This has the potential for a classic game and a shootout and I actually think that might work in USC’s favor, with the game being at home and the Notre Dame defense has some weaknesses that I think the Trojans can exploit.

USC pulls an upset and ends their three-game losing streak to the Irish, while also ending any playoff dreams for Notre Dame.

Final Score: Notre Dame 42, USC 45 (10-2)