No. 16 Notre Dame/Boston College: Keys & Predictions

Notre Dame lost four times alone on their home field in 2016. Since then they’ve lost only six times total and only once one their home field, that coming against eventual national runner-up Georgia in 2017.

No. 16 Notre Dame welcomes Boston College this weekend as Senior Day is upon us. It’s not a perfect formula seeing as plenty from the 2016 recruiting class have a year of eligibility remaining and will be back next season but take this into consideration as many will play their final game at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday:

Notre Dame lost four times alone on their home field in 2016. Since then they’ve lost only six times total and only once one their home field, that coming against eventual national runner-up Georgia in 2017.

I know that ultimate goal of another appearance in the College Football Playoff isn’t attainable but an unbeaten November for a program that has had their issues late in seasons to play hard and play well through the end is worthy of some praise, although not everything.

So how do the Irish avoid coming out flat in their final home game of 2019 and walk out victorious while preferably not hopefully not having things get overly interesting late?

Keys:

Offense:

Jeff:

Things probably aren’t going to come as easy as they did last week but I thought the diversity of the play calling last week from Chip Long was on point. Continue to use the skill sets of these young receivers like Keys and Lenzy and build their confidence. If all else fails, throw it to Claypool 🙂

Nick:

Boston College gets thrown all over all the time. Ian Book has looked very good since the last two drives against Virginia Tech, keep that rolling today and hang a big number.

Defense:

Jeff:

Stop AJ Dillon. Make BC work through the air. It’s really that simple to me. Dillon is one of the toughest players in the country to bring down and there’s no doubt the Irish have struggled against running games that can at least throw the ball a little. I’m looking at you Navy. 

Nick:

Contain the running game. AJ Dillion is great and he’s a threat in their pass game as well but David Bailey is solid too, assuming he ends up playing Saturday. Michigan made you look a fool while you went and just did the same to Navy – now take care of business against BC’s rushing attacking.

Predictions:

Jeff: Notre Dame 38, Boston College 17

Nick: Notre Dame 34, Boston College 20