Notre Dame Football: 3 bold predictions vs. Syracuse in Week 14
![CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 27: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish rolls out against the North Carolina Tar Heelsduring the first half of their game at Kenan Stadium on November 27, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 27: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish rolls out against the North Carolina Tar Heelsduring the first half of their game at Kenan Stadium on November 27, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/1a02101308c32e7eeb93f2d1d0a5b6a0ec7c5d7bc3f7da5408473e47cea10a14.jpg)
Notre Dame football looks to continue its undefeated season against Syracuse. Can the Orange pull off the major upset and spoil Senior Day for the Irish?
Notre Dame is coming off a huge road win against the North Carolina Tar Heels last Friday. The offense played a well balanced game, but the game ball went to the Notre Dame defense. Notre Dame went into Chapel Hill and flat out shut down a North Carolina offense that averaged well over 500 yards per game to only 298 total yards.
The 298 total yards was North Carolina’s fewest total all season.
Brian Kelly earned victory No. 101 as the Notre Dame head coach last weekend. Kelly now only trails the legend Knute Rockne by four victories. Notre Dame also has now won an FBS leading 15 games in a row.
Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book improved to 29-3 as a starter with the win over the Tar Heels. Book tied former greats in Tom Clements, Ron Powlus and Brady Quinn with the most victories as the starting quarterback at Notre Dame. With a victory on Saturday against Syracuse Ian Book would be alone at the top.
One last stat worth mentioning is Ian Book’s career record at Notre Dame Stadium. Book is currently undefeated at home as the starting quarterback for Notre Dame. A win would just add his name to the history books even more overall.
Saturday will mark the end for many playing at Notre Dame Stadium as it is Senior Day for the Irish. With the NCAA giving all athletes another year of eligibility some may have another Senior Day next year, but for some this will be it with them moving on to the NFL.
If Notre Dame gets a win over Syracuse on Senior Day the Irish true seniors on the roster will go out with an impressive record of 25-1 at Notre Dame Stadium. The lone loss coming in a close matchup with the Georgia Bulldogs in 2017.
While Notre Dame is having a great season on the football field, Syracuse is not having so much success on their end. Syracuse enters the game with a record of 1-9. Not much has gone right for Dino Babers and the Syracuse Orange program this year.
It sure did not end well for Syracuse this past Saturday. Syracuse was on the move at home against North Carolina State for a potential tying score. But Syracuse quarterback Rex Culpepper was sacked on third and goal, and then spiked the ball on fourth and goal to end the game. Syracuse will need to play a perfect game Saturday afternoon if they want to leave South Bend with a victory.
Here are three bold predictions for this ACC matchup.