Two of college football’s perennial juggernauts come together on September 28 when the Notre Dame Fighting Irish host the Oklahoma Sooners.
The Irish are coming off an undefeated 2012 season during which they overcame the Sooners en route to playing for the National Championship. However, they recorded a loss in just the second game of their current season thanks to the Michigan Wolverines.
They face the Sooners, who are 3-0 after convincing victories to LA-Monroe, West Virginia and Tulsa, and are looking for payback after last season’s home field loss to the Irish.
Game Preview: Oklahoma vs Notre Dame
(14) Oklahoma Sooners (3-0, 1-0)
*As of September 18, 2013
There has been some concern regarding Oklahoma’s starting quarterback position heading into the big game against Notre Dame. But after Blake Bell’s remarkable 413-yard, 4-touchdown performance against Tulsa, that concern has been mostly negated. [sc:NCAA240banner ]
With Bell, the sputtering Oklahoma offense has finally clicked into gear, producing 51 points and 607 total yards. The Sooners now have a passing game to complement their impressive running attack that’s averaging close to 272 yards a game.
But while the offense probably won’t score 50 points on Notre Dame, its defense won’t be giving up many either. The Sooners D is top 5 in the nation in points allowed, surrendering just 9 points per game thus far, with a run defense that’s giving up a paltry 100 yards a game.
If Bell proves that the Tulsa game was no fluke, the Oklahoma Sooners could be well on their way to a 4-0 start. Be a “Bell-iever” and bet on Oklahoma at the Top Bet Sportsbook.
(22) Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-1)
*As of September 18, 2013
In their first three games, Notre Dame has not looked like the team that went to the National Championship Game last year. A major factor has been trying to retool a defense that lost key starters over the off-season, Manti Te’o most notable among them.
Their performance in Week 2 against Michigan was particularly rough. The Fighting Irish defense gave up 460 total yards of offense (166 on the ground) to the Wolverines in a 41-30 loss. The Irish will need to shore up their run defense against the prolific Sooners backs.
On the bright side, Notre Dame’s offense has been excellent to start the season. Quarterback Tommy Rees has topped 300 passing yards in each of their first three games, with at least two touchdowns per game. Among his primary weapons against Oklahoma’s defense will be receiver DaVaris Daniels, who torched Purdue for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns.
On an even brighter note, Notre Dame is undefeated in their last eight home games. Bet now on the luck of the Irish to make it nine straight on Top Bet sportsbook.
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