| Irish LB Manti Te'o will play his final game at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday. Te'o could merit Heisman consideration with a strong finish. (AP) |
Wake Forest (5-5, 3-5 ACC) at No. 3 Notre Dame (10-0)
Kickoff: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC
Spread: Notre Dame by 24
Watchability: High. Although the Demon Deacons are coming off a 37-6 drubbing last week at NC State, Saturday’s matchup isn’t one to miss. A loss by the Irish would knock Brian Kelly’s team out of the national championship picture. Stranger things have happened late in the college football season. A win by Notre Dame moves the Irish to 11-0 for the first time since 1989. Of the seven previous Irish teams to start a season 10-0, five have won the national championship.
Shining stars: Notre Dame -- QB Everett Golson. With 200 passing yards last week at Boston College, the redshirt freshman finished with consecutive 200-yard games for the first time in his career. For a Notre Dame team that depends on its three-headed rushing attack, it’s a step in the right direction. Golson displayed loads of arm strength when he rolled to his right and threw across the field on an 18-yard touchdown to WR John Goodman last week. The ball traveled closer to 60. Golson has improved at checking runs to passes as the season has progressed. Wake Forest -- WR Michael Campagnaro. The redshirt junior tied an ACC record for receptions in a game with 16 against Boston College on Nov. 3. Campagnaro added five last week against the Wolfpack to set a school record for combined receptions in consecutive games. The 5-11, 195 pound receiver has had three games this season of at least 10 catches and 100 receiving yards. Campagnaro has been a matchup nightmare in the slot. Notre Dame struggled to contain Oklahoma slot receiver Jalen Saunders in a win over the Sooners last month.
Who could steal the show: Notre Dame -- TE Tyler Eifert . The Mackey Award semifinalist needs five catches to break Ken McAfee’s 35-year school record for receptions in a career by a tight end (128). Eifert had three catches for 60 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown in last season’s win over the Demon Deacons. If Wake Forest brings a safety into the box to stop the run, they will be taking a substantial risk. Eifert could have a big afternoon if he doesn’t face constant double teams. Wake Forest -- FB Tommy Bohanon. Although the position is quickly becoming obsolete in both college and the pros, Bonanon provides an example of how the fullback can be used effectively. The senior has 16 receptions in his last six games, including a career-high six catches against Boston College. Bohanon has also tied the school record for receptions in a season with five.
You going? Ranking the road trip: It should be a festive atmosphere in South Bend for the Irish's last home game of the season and LB Manti Te’o’s final home game of his career. Te’o has two games remaining to impress Heisman voters as his campaign mounts.
Magic number for Notre Dame: 11. The Irish enter this week tied for first in FBS in scoring defense by allowing just 11.1 points per game. Only seven defenses in FBS history have allowed fewer points per game in a season. Notre Dame has allowed just nine TDs this season -- five fewer than any other team in FBS.
Magic number for Wake Forest: 24. Under coach Jim Grobe, the Demon Deacons are 60-23 when scoring 24 points or more in a contest. When Wake Forest has scored less than 24 under Grobe, it is only 13-49. Grobe’s team is 3-1 when scoring more than 24 points this season.
The game comes down to: Wake Forest’s ability to move the ball on Notre Dame’s stifling defense. The Demon Deacons have scored more than 14 points just twice in their last five games. If Notre Dame is creating pressure and forcing turnovers early, it could get ugly fast in South Bend.
Eye on College Football's take: Wake Forest ranks 108th in the country scoring only 20.1 ppg. Notre Dame has the top scoring defense in the land, allowing only 11.1 ppg. So unless the Deacons bring a whole new offense to South Bend, don't expect much to change. -- Tom Fornelli
Prediction: Notre Dame 31, Wake Forest 3
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