Game Predictions: #18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Boston College Eagles

The 18th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-3) will look for their fifth straight win this weekend when they take on the Boston College Eagles (3-7). It will be the 27th meeting between the two schools, and the Irish lead the all-time series 17-9. With a win, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman will get achieve the longest win streak of his young career.

Where: Notre Dame Stadium (South Bend, Ind.)
When: 2:30 PM ET
Network: NBC/Peacock
Line: Notre Dame -21.0, O/U 43

Irish Breakdown has spent the week breaking down the matchup and now it's time to make our predictions.

BRYAN DRISKELL, PUBLISHER

Prediction: Notre Dame 34, Boston College 13

I know that Notre Dame has struggled against bad teams, but this is an especially bad matchup for the Eagles. Notre Dame should absolutely dominate both lines, and unlike Navy, Boston College doesn't come into this game with any kind of track record of slowing down the opposition ground attack. Each of Boston College's last two opponents (Duke, NC State) have racked up over 200 yards on the ground, and I fully expect the Irish blockers to open up holes for the talented backfield of Logan Diggs, Audric Estime and Chris Tyree.

The matchup is even worse on the other side of the ball. Boston College ranks 124th nationally in tackles for loss allowed and 126th nationally in sacks allowed. Notre Dame's defensive line has several key members that are playing their last game at home, and I fully expect that unit to end the home slate with a bang. Not only will the Irish dominate up front, Isaiah Foskey will leave this game as the school's all-time leader in sacks. Boston College will get a touchdown off of a sloppy defensive series (because Notre Dame allows one of those per game), but outside of that this will be a dominant defensive performance.

So will this be a 34-13 game that Notre Dame dominates in the trenches and plays clean on the perimeter? That's what my prediction reflects. Will this be a game where the game plan from Tommy Rees is maddeningly basic and the Irish eek out a 20-16 type of game? Anything is possible with this team. Of course, if Rees is at his best and finds ways to get Michael Mayer touches, finally gets back to using his backs more in the pass game and is able to get the ball out to the perimeter this is also a game that Irish could really get rolling and pound BC by a far more convincing final score.

RYAN ROBERTS, DIRECTOR OF RECRUITING

Prediction: Notre Dame 31, Boston College 13

On paper, this game shouldn’t be close. Even after Notre Dame’s narrow 35-32 victory over Navy last week, they still come into the game carrying a four game winning streak. Their offense should be potent enough to put Boston College into a tough spot early.

The Eagles just do not have an offense good enough to match blow for blow if Notre Dame is on top of its game. Wide receiver Zay Flowers will make some plays but the Irish team should handle this one relatively easily down the stretch.

VINCE DEDARIO, FOOTBALL ANALYST

Prediction: Notre Dame 37, Boston College 14

Well I have learned my lesson with Notre Dame that is for sure! I will not be taking ND minus the 21 points or whatever they have the line at today. I thought I was in the money last week only to see the Irish trudge their way to the worst offensive half of football I have ever seen. They set football back a couple decades with that performance. The good thing is that Navy is a one off for the season. It is almost an escape and advance type game and Notre Dame did just that.

Time to focus on the last home game of the season and sending the seniors out on a good note. I think that is exactly what the Irish will do this week. The defense is going to bounce back and take advantage of a very weak BC offensive line. Irish fans will be able to celebrate Isaiah Foskey breaking the all-time sack record as well as the best tight end in ND history playing his last game inside Notre Dame Stadium. Should be a fun afternoon. There will be no shortage of offensive fireworks either which should go a long way in keeping the Irish faithful warm.

SHAUN DAVIS, RECRUITING ANALYST

Prediction: Notre Dame 24, Boston College 13

Senior Day is always emotional for the home team and the Fighting Irish will have the task of not looking ahead to USC. The Eagles are a one-dimensional offense that will be dealing with some cold weather, and that plays into what Notre Dame wants to do defensively. The Fighting Irish create two turnovers and run the ball successfully for an easy win at home.

SEAN STIRES, STAFF WRITER

Prediction: Notre Dame 27, Boston College 20

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: This is a game that Notre Dame should clearly dominate. But it’s also the sixth time we could say that this season. It's the sixth time Notre Dame has been a double-digit favorite, but the Fighting Irish are 3-2 in the previous five such games and they have failed to cover the spread in all of those games. BC is only scoring 19 points a game, they’re rushing for a paltry 2.1 yards per carry and quarterbacks Phil Jurkovec and Emmett Morehead have been sacked 39 times behind a makeshift offensive line. This game has always meant more to BC though and that will be heightened by Jurkovec’s return to Notre Dame (assuming he is healthy).

ANDREW McDONOUGH, IB CONTRIBUTOR

Prediction: Notre Dame 34, Boston College 6

The Fighting Irish close out the 2022 home slate with a dominant victory over a Boston College team that cannot match up with Notre Dame, setting up a massive showdown with USC in the Coliseum next week. Notre Dame has developed a physical identity this year, and the Eagles do not have the personnel to match ND's physicality along the line of scrimmage.

Boston College ranks 12th in the ACC in rushing defense, allowing an average of over 4.1 YPC and 19 rushing touchdowns on the season, which will allow the Notre Dame ground attack to get rolling after struggling last week. On offense, Boston College has arguably the nation's worst offensive line - the Eagles have surrendered 39 sacks on the season (126th in the country) and allowed 84 TFLs (124th in the country). Against a motivated Irish team on Senior Day, Boston College doesn't find the end zone.

IB STAFF STANDINGS

Bryan - 39-13
Ryan - 36-16
Vince - 34-18
Shaun - 32-20
Sean - 31-21
Andrew - 30-22

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