Notre Dame Football: 3 reasons Irish will beat North Carolina in Week 13

1. The combination of Ian Book and Tommy Rees 

This is offensive coordinator Tommy Rees first year calling plays for the Irish. He called plays last year in their bowl victory over Iowa State, but that more of a tryout at the time for the offensive coordinator position after Chip Long left the program.

Tommy Rees has done a really great job calling plays for the Notre Dame offense. I’m sure things are made easier when you have a fifth year quarterback in Ian Book, too.

Any Irish fan would agree that early on in the season the running game and the defense were the main takeaways in the teams success though. But over the last few weeks Notre Dame’s passing game has been really impressive and fun to watch.

Ian Book on the season through eight games has thrown for 1,818 yards, 11 passing touchdowns, and six rushing touchdowns with only one interception. Those are pretty good numbers for a team that also has a very good running game as well. But what really is impressive is Book in the last four games.

Since the game against Pittsburgh, Ian Book has thrown for 1,104 yards, ran for 238 yards on the ground, thrown for eight touchdowns, rushed for a score and also has no interceptions. Book’s ability to run and keep drives alive with his feet is a very underrated part of his game.

Book’s favorite target in these last four games has been graduate transfer Ben Skowronek who has scored five touchdowns in the last four games. Book has other reliable weapons in receivers Javon McKinley, Avery Davis and two of his tight ends in Tommy Tremble, and freshman sensation Michael Mayer.

What is scary for North Carolina is that the Notre Dame offense could be getting even better with Braden Lenzy getting healthy. He can really fly and stretch the opposing defense down the field. Do not be surprised to see more of another freshman standout in Jordan Johnson either. Can never have too many options out there on the field.

Notre Dame, coming off its bye, will be too much to handle for North Carolina. This is going to be a very entertaining matchup between two very well coached teams. But I believe Notre Dame’s undefeated season rolls on in the end.

Prediction: Notre Dame 49, UNC 37