The end of the college football regular season is upon us, but not before we tie up some loose ends to map the College Football Playoff picture out more clearly. Notre Dame is a major contender for the fourth playoff berth, and a win over the Cardinal next Saturday will grant the Fighting Irish a better shot at the ultimate prize: a national title.
Read on as we break down this regular season finale between two of the NCAA’s more successful programs of 2015. Then, check out our previews for Ohio State vs. Michigan and Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State afterwards to be on top of a pair of other marquee matchups in Week 13 of college football action this coming weekend.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Stanford Cardinal
Where: Stanford Stadium, Stanford
When: Saturday, November 28, 7:30 PM ET
Line: Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Stanford Cardinal – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: FOX
Betting on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9-1)
[sc:NCAA240banner ]It wasn’t easy at all, but the Notre Dame Fighting Irish bagged their ninth victory of the season this Saturday with a gritty 19-16 win over the Boston College Eagles.
Boston College’s stifling defense, which came into the game with the nation’s third-best scoring defense at 14.4 points allowed per contest, proved to be another tough test for Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish committed five turnovers against the Eagles (three of them in the red zone), with quarterback DeShone Kizer accountable for a season-high three interceptions from those five gimmes.
Kizer, who still had a pretty solid game (save for the three picks) with 320 yards and two TDs on 20-of-38 passing, will need to take better care of the ball next Saturday against Stanford’s own stout D.
Notre Dame’s running game, which only gained a total of 127 rushing yards against BC’s top-ranked run D, will also need to regain its mojo on the ground. However, that’s easier said than done at this point, as feature back C.J. Prosise (eight carries 57 yards) seems to be doubtful for next weekend’s match against the Cardinal after suffering an ankle injury in the second quarter of the game against the Eagles.
And speaking of the running game, the Irish’s run D has got to do a better job of containing the opposition, especially with Stanford’s star running back Christian McCaffrey due up next. That defensive front surrendered 214 rushing yards to Boston College on Saturday, who entered the contest with the 91st-ranked rushing offense in the nation.
The total has gone under in the last five meetings between the Irish and the Cardinal.
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Betting on the Stanford Cardinal (9-2, 8-1 Pac-12)
The “Big Game” on Saturday night between the California Golden Bears and the Stanford Cardinal lived up to its billing. However, the game only proved to be a big one for the latter, as the Cardinal defeated Cal, 35-22, to clinch the Pac-12 North Division and secure their spot for this season’s Pac-12 championship game.
Christian McCaffrey continued his tear through 2015 with another exhilarating performance. The sophomore back extended his own school record to nine-straight 100-yard rushing games with 192 yards on Saturday on 29 carries. Not only that, but McCaffrey also set another school record in the win with his 389 all-purpose yards in the contest.
With virtually nothing else left to play for this coming weekend, the Cardinal still cannot be complacent and give Notre Dame any handouts. Yes, McCaffrey can pretty much torch the Fighting Irish’s run D, but the team’s defense is still quite worrisome.
The Cardinal entered the match against the Bears with the best passing defense in the Pac-12 at 348.4 yards allowed per contest, but strangely enough, they are the worst at creating picks with a conference-worst seven INTs for the season.
Stanford will have one last “tune-up” match before the Pac-12 title game (with the South Division still to be decided between UCLA, USC and Utah), and recent results indicate that the team will be ready for the Fighting Irish this coming weekend. The Cardinal have won the last three home games against Notre Dame since 2009, although they went just 1-2 against the spread during that same span.
Writer’s Prediction
McCaffrey with another mesmerizing outing, leading Stanford to a 35-26 win over Notre Dame.
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