Game Predictions: #9 Notre Dame vs. Bowling Green

The 9th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3-1) square off tomorrow against the Bowling Green Falcons (1-3). Notre Dame is a massive 45.5-point favorite against an opponent whose three losses were by an average of 40.7 points per game.

Now it's time for the Irish Maven staff to make their predictions.

Bryan Driskell, Publisher

Prediction: Notre Dame 63, Bowling Green 0

I honestly don’t know if there has ever been a game in my adult life where Notre Dame had a greater advantage than this one. Notre Dame has a dramatic size, power, athleticism, talent and coaching advantage in this game.

There is no threat of Notre Dame losing this game, but there are certainly important areas where the Irish can either show growth or take a step back. That is what I’m looking for in this game, and last year Notre Dame had its true breakout performance against Stanford, which was also the fifth game of the season.

Notre Dame is close in a lot of areas, and this game needs to be the first strong “all-around” game of the season. I predict that Notre Dame will come out smoking on offense, and quarterback Ian Book is going to finally look like the player Irish fans hoped he would be this season. The line will be strong and the playmakers will thrive. Defensively, Notre Dame is going to dominate and the Falcons are going to have a hard time moving the ball … or at least should.

X-Factor: QB Ian Book - If Book comes out and plays smart, shows poise and distributes the ball where it needs to go the offense should roll early. Book starting fast will allow the Irish to get early separation and will give OC Chip Long and his staff the opportunity to get some much-needed reps for younger players.

Sean Cameron, Staff Contributor

Prediction: Notre Dame 66, Bowling Green 10

This is probably the most out-classed an opponent has been in the Brian Kelly era. Ranking 120 out of 130 in both points per game and points against, the Falcons offer the Irish a chance to work out some of the kinks in the offense, while providing the defense a sacrificial lamb of sorts. If the Irish are to finish the regular season without another loss, they will likely need some of their young defenders to grow up in a hurry to provide the necessary depth for such a run. This match-up affords Clark Lea the opportunity to fine tune the play of his vets, while giving him ample snaps to evaluate his bench. Head coach Scot Loeffler is going to wish that he caught the Irish to open the season rather than in a stretch where they seem to be hitting their stride.

X-Factor: C'Bo Flemister RB - His cameo vs. Virginia revealed a young player gaining confidence with every snap. In what I suspect will be extended minutes, Flemister will show off a skill-set that will augment the running back group going forward.

Mark Machiedo, Staff Contributor

Prediction: Notre Dame 60 Bowling Green 17

While the Ghost Of Ball State 2018 looms when analyzing this weekend’s match up against another wildly overmatched, genuinely putrid, opponent from the MAC, I believe this Irish team will be (relatively) locked in and will easily dispatch Bowling Green.

From a numbers perspective this is a BGSU team that is legitimately worse than New Mexico. Wow. That’s a big ole bucket of yuck.

Additionally, one gets the sense that, with Brian VanGorder coming back to town and USC on the horizon, Kelly and his coaching staff have likely made this week a difficult and demanding one for the players. That bodes .... poorly for Bowling Green.

X-Factor: Michael Young, WR - As a longtime master of the obvious, let me state that I think this game will present a slightly better opportunity for Young to really get back into the swing of things on offense. My guess is that he will lead his position group in snaps, catches, and receiving yards.

Brian Smith, Recruiting Contributor

Prediction: Notre Dame 56, Bowling Green 13

Look for the Irish to try and establish the run early and then go vertical (finally?) quite often to open gap by the early portion of the second quarter. The defense will simply out-talent Bowling Green, and negative plays will abound. Quarterback Ian Book will throw his last pass of the day with 10 minutes remaining in the 3 quarter, and the reserves will take over across the board. Look for underclassmen to establish themselves.

This means you: C’Bo Flemister, Kyle Hamilton, Paul Moala, Ovie Oghoufo, Isaiah Foskey, Nana Osafo-Mensah, Andrew Kristofic, Cole Mabry, John Dirksen and Shayne Simon to name a few.

X-Factor: Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, DT - He will be in the backfield the entire first half because of his first step burst and raw power. Long yardage third downs will await the Bowling Green quarterback, and the Irish defensive ends will tee off!

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