Staff picks for No. 5 Notre Dame vs. Florida State

How does it play out when Notre Dame welcomes Florida State on Saturday? The FIW staff takes their best bets as to what happens here!

Geoffrey Clark Prediction (2-0):

December 29, 2011; Orlando, FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Tyler Eifert (80) makes the catch and takes a hit from Florida State Seminoles safety Lamarcus Joyner (20) at the Champs Sports Bowl at Citrus Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

Despite the two-week layoff, the Irish should have an easy time against a Seminoles team still trying to find itself. The defense will punish teams that don’t go into South Bend with a game plan they’ve been able to run regularly. That’s the case with the Seminoles, who already are on their third starting quarterback this season. After this contest, it could be back to the drawing board in Tallahassee once again.

Notre Dame 39, Florida State 16

Michael Chen’s Prediction is next.