Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Notre Dame Football: Way-too-early 2021 game-by-game predictions

By Jackson Caudell

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 07: Running back Kyren Williams #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish stiff arms safety Nolan Turner #24 of the Clemson Tigers on his way to a touchdown in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium on November 7, 2020 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Matt Cashore-Pool/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 07: Running back Kyren Williams #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish stiff arms safety Nolan Turner #24 of the Clemson Tigers on his way to a touchdown in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium on November 7, 2020 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Matt Cashore-Pool/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 7
Next
Julian Okwara, Notre Dame Football (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Julian Okwara, Notre Dame Football (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

7. 808. Scouting Report. Notre Dame (Ind.). USC Trojans. player. Pick Analysis. Oct. 23

One of the best rivalries in the sport took a one year hiatus because of COVID-19, but the annual matchup between the Trojans and the Fighting Irish will take place in 2021. This will be a must-win game for both teams if they are hoping to make a surprise playoff run. USC almost came to South Bend and won this game back in 2019 and they will need to get a win there once again to take a little pressure off Clay Helton.

I am not fully confident in this prediction, but I think that USC wins this game. I trust their ability on offense more than Notre Dame’s and I think this could be the year for the Trojans to win the Pac-12 with Kedon Slovis under center.

Final Score: Notre Dame 35, USC 38 (5-2)

North Carolina Tar Heels. 838. Oct. 30. 8. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Notre Dame (Ind.)

Another tough game for Notre Dame will come a week after their game versus USC and I think that this North Carolina team could be a better version than the one that the Irish beat last season. One of Notre Dame’s signature wins last year came in Chapel Hill against the Tar Heels and it showed that while North Carolina was a good team, they were probably a year away from being able to compete with teams like the Irish.

North Carolina is missing some skill guys from last year’s team, but the important thing is quarterback Sam Howell is back, as well as the entire offensive line. I was high on the Tar Heels last season, but I may have been a year early with the hype. I think North Carolina is in line for a double-digit win season and gets a signature win over the Fighting Irish.

Final Score: Notre Dame 31, North Carolina 34 (5-3) 

Home/Notre Dame Fighting Irish