Notre Dame Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2022 season

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Oct 30, 2021; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Logan Diggs (22) carries as North Carolina Tar Heels cornerback Tony Grimes (20) defends in the third quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

Many people believe Justin Wilcox is improving Cal by the year, but I’m not buying that just yet. The Golden Bears are a decent Pac-12 team that should make a bowl game, but you’re crazy if you think I have them upsetting Notre Dame in Week 3.

This will be your annual ugly September win for the Irish in a game that they should run away with but they let the inferior opponent hang around for a little too long. Still, it’ll be a two-score win with a final of 28-13 or something like that.

Prediction: Win (2-1)

Sam Howell is gone so you know the offense is probably going to be slightly less effective, but he had a tough final season in Chapel Hill.

Mack Brown has still brought the excitement back to the program and there are still some intriguing returning pieces on offense, led by Josh Downs. Will he be enough to make up for the Tar Heels’ horrid defense? I just don’t think so. Notre Dame steals one on the road.

Prediction: Win (3-1)

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