No one is giving Notre Dame football much of a chance on Friday evening against Alabama but here’s why the Irish will pull off the shocking upset.
Notre Dame is headed back to the College Football Playoff for the second time in three years and Ian Book and Brian Kelly are getting another shot to prove that they aren’t that far behind nationally.
Getting boat-raced by Clemson a couple of years ago in the playoff just went to show just how far this team was behind programs like Alabama and the Tigers, talent-wise. The Irish have recruited at a higher level since and even beat Clemson earlier this season. Could this be that special year that Kelly has been striving for or will it be another big-stage letdown?
The Fighting Irish have the talent to keep up in the playoff this year, but no one is giving them a chance to take down No. 1 Alabama. In the famous words of Lee Corso: “Not so fast.”
Why could the Irish beat Alabama and shock the nation?
3. Alabama may already be looking ahead
If you’re Alabama, it’s easy to get caught up in national title talks, especially when you have three of the top five Heisman Trophy finalists and have looked unbeatable this season.
That might actually play into Notre Dame’s hands.
Whenever a team is expected to roll over its opponent and is already caught looking ahead to another potential rematch with Clemson or even a battle with a tough Ohio State squad, that’s when upsets happen. Alabama may be a different case because Nick Saban is the best coach in the country and his Tide are just that good, but it happens every year.
Sure, Alabama has more talent and may be more battle-tested, but the Irish have faced elite offenses this season in North Carolina and Clemson and they’re 2-1 in those games.
Catching Alabama looking ahead would be the slip-up the Irish need here.
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