Notre Dame Football: 3 bold predictions vs. Syracuse in Week 14

1. Brendon Clark, Drew Pyne get snaps at quarterback

Depending on which gambling site you look at Notre Dame is favored by at least 30 points against Syracuse. Could Notre Dame cover this spread? Absolutely, but at the same time you just never know in sports. Notre Dame is playing such great football right now it would be a real shocker to see this game be close in the fourth quarter.

If you did not know who the backup quarterbacks were at Notre Dame before today, well you do now. Brendon Clark and Drew Pyne both got some playing time when the Irish routed Pittsburgh earlier this season. Both should be seeing action this week as well if everything goes as planned for Notre Dame.

Notre Dame is really clicking on offense, defense, and special teams. If Notre Dame sticks to their game plan this should be an easier win compared to last weeks road victory at North Carolina.

If the game is in hand for the Irish this would give them a glimpse of what they have at the quarterback position behind Book in the later part of the game. Clark, Pyne and incoming freshman Tyler Buchner should all get their shot next spring to win the job outright.

With Ian Book being a graduate student, and already having accepted an invite to play in the Senior Bowl means this is season is most likely it for Ian Book at Notre Dame.

Could Ian Book decide to opt out of the Senior Bowl and come back next year? Sure he could, but just do not see it happening. If this is the last home game for Book and others they will go out on top with another victory. It is a shame they will not get a standing ovation as they leave the field from 80,000 plus fans though.

Prediction: Notre Dame 52, Syracuse 14