Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Stanford Cardinal Game Predictions
By Bryan Driskell,
5 hours ago
The 11th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-1) get back to action this weekend after a much-needed bye. Notre Dame will take on Stanford as the teams battle for the Legends Trophy. Notre Dame is looking for its fourth straight win, while the Cardinal are looking to end a two-game losing streak. Notre Dame is also looking for payback against a Stanford team that beat the Irish the last time the two teams played inside Notre Dame Stadium.
Location : Notre Dame Stadium (Notre Dame, Ind.) Date : Saturday - October 12 Time : 3:30 PM ET Channel : NBC/Peacock Line : Notre Dame -22.5; O/U 45.5
Irish Breakdown has made predictions for this rivalry game.
BRYAN DRISKELL, OWNER
Prediction : Notre Dame 41, Stanford 13
I'm making my prediction based on what should happen more than trying to predict what will happen. This Notre Dame has been too up and down for me to confidently say what they will look like. On paper this isn't a competitive matchup, as Notre Dame should be able to dominate Stanford on both sides of the ball. That was also true in 2022 when Stanford beat the Irish on this very same field.
Ultimately, the Notre Dame defense has been outstanding this season, and borderline elite through five games. Notre Dame ranks as a Top 5 national defense according to every efficiency ranking I've seen, and the Cardinal have struggled on offense this season. Quarterback Ashton Daniels and the freshman running backs have athletic talent, but this is a matchup Notre Dame should dominate. If Notre Dame is focused and plays with fire they should shut Stanford down.
That puts this game ultimately in the hands of the Fighting Irish offense. Outside of the win over Purdue and the first half against Louisville the Irish offense has been relatively mediocre. The hope in South Bend is that the bye week gave this unit time to find answers, and I think they do that to some degree. I think Notre Dame jumps on Stanford early and this game is basically over by halftime.
VINCE DEDARIO, FOOTBALL ANALYST
Prediction : Notre Dame 38, Stanford 13
Will Ashton Daniels play against Notre Dame on Saturday? That is the biggest question mark coming into this game for the Cardinal. If he can play they have a puncher's chance against the Irish. If not, this one will be over before it starts. Daniels at least brings the threat of the pass to the Stanford offense while his back up Justin Lamson is a bit of a runner but will never challenge the Irish with his arm.
Notre Dame comes into this game as over a three touchdown favorite and that is assuming Daniels is behind center. Notre Dame gets some very key pieces back this week with Josh Burnham, Christian Gray, and Jordan Faison all returning to the depth chart. Stanford ranks in the top 10 in rush defense as a team but ranks 122 in pass defense. This is an opportunity to do some things in the passing game while still asserting dominance in the run game. It could also be a game where they do not need to run Riley Leonard as much and save a few hits on his body. Notre Dame should win this one going away but you just never know.
NICK KREMER, RECRUITNG ANALYST
Prediction : Notre Dame 31, Stanford 13
Marcus Freeman has a perfect 3-0 record following bye weeks, and I expect that to extend to 4-0 after this Saturday. Stanford is coming off two straight losses, but is expected to have starting quarterback Ashton Daniels back for this game.
Daniels is a talented quarterback, especially when throwing to his future NFL wide receiver Elic Ayomanor. While I believe Troy Taylor is a good coach and will have a few tricks up his sleeve on Saturday, Al Golden will have the Irish defense ready to go after the bye. I anticipate a strong performance from Notre Dame’s secondary.
On offense, I expect Riley Leonard’s passing game to continue its progression this Saturday. Stanford's defense is giving up an average of 358 total yards to opposing offenses, with a significant portion of those yards coming through the air. The Irish offense brings a balanced attack to Stanford on the way to a win.
SEAN STIRES, STAFF WRITER
Prediction : Notre Dame 34, Stanford 13
Irish offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock said back in training camp that Notre Dame’s offense would look different in week seven than it did in week one. Denbrock said this week that the progress he saw from the Riley Leonard-led offense gives him the confidence that things can “kick into gear” coming out of the first bye week and into this middle stretch of the season. That doesn’t mean Leonard will morph into a 300-yard-a-game passer but the offense we saw in the first half of the Louisville game should start to be the standard.
Stanford head coach Troy Taylor said earlier this week that his dual threat quarterback, Ashton Daniels, is available to face the Irish after missing last week’s blowout loss to Virginia Tech. The Irish have to limit him and big play making receiver Elic Ayomanor. Getting defensive end Josh Burnham back from his own ankle injury should be a big boost in that direction for Notre Dame.
TREVOR TROWBRIDGE, STAFF WRITER
Prediction : Notre Dame 38, Stanford 10
Marcus Freeman is 3-0 coming out of the bye week and the streak will live on this Saturday. Notre Dame holds the advantage on paper on offense and defense. Team should be playing with an extra chip on their shoulder based on what happened the last time they played Stanford in South Bend. The passing game will continue to heat up, having the bye week to fix some issues in pass protection, and adding an additional week of chemistry building for Leonard and his receivers.
Stanford has some banged up players at key areas on their offense and have yet to have a running back score a rushing touchdown this year. Notre Dame's defense is the strength of this team, and will continue to show why on Saturday.
ANDREW MCDONOUGH, IB CONTRIBUTOR
Prediction : Notre Dame 27, Stanford 13
The Fighting Irish lean on their talent edge and stout defense to pull away from Stanford in the second half after the teams play a close first half. The Cardinal are well-coached, present some schematic challenges, and their rushing attack has traveled this season, with the Cardinal averaging 204.5 YPG on the ground (including a game at Clemson) and just 125.3 at home. Additionally, QB Ashton Daniels will be available to play after getting injured against Clemson, but the Cardinal have not yet announced whether it will be him or backup Justin Lamson that get the nod in South Bend. Daniels is inconsistent, but he is a playmaker.
Coming out of the bye week, I would like to see Notre Dame be able to continue offensive success after getting off the opening script. The Fighting Irish have scored on their first possession in 4 of 5 games this year (Miami being the only exception), but have only scored on their second possession in 1 game this season. If Notre Dame starts fast and continues to execute, they have the talent to blow out Stanford. However, if Notre Dame is again unable to stretch the field vertically with the passing game against the nation's 122nd ranked pass defense, this one could stay tight in the second half as Stanford is strong against the run - ranking 12th in the county - and is not going to let Notre Dame just line up and run the ball.
JOE EVERETT, IB CONTRIBUTOR
Prediction : Notre Dame 38, Stanford 13
Coming off of a bye week refreshed, I expect Notre Dame to be ready to go and to pounce on the Cardinal from the get-go. I expect a big first-half from Riley Leonard as he showcases some positive development in the Irish passing game. Stanford has some weapons on the outside with receivers Elic Ayomanor and Ismael Cisse, but for a team that's been thoroughly beaten by both Clemson and Virginia Tech its past two games, I don't see the Cardinal providing much of a test on Saturday.
SEASON STANDINGS
Bryan - 17-5 Vince - 16-6 Nick - 16-6 Sean - 15-7 Trevor - 15-7 Andrew - 15-7 Joe - 13-5
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