Latest from CBSSports on Notre Dame: Notre Dame is a tremendously balanced team, including a top-flight defense. The Irish rank third in the ACC in total defense (323.3 yards allowed per game), passing defense (212 yards per game) and rushing defense (111.3 yards per game), operating without a defined weakness. On top of that, Notre Dame leads the conference in scoring defense, giving up only 13.0 points per game, and the Irish are second in completion percentage allowed (50.5 percent) and No. 1 in the league in allowing only one touchdown pass this season. On special teams, the Irish could have an advantage,Watch Now Live. with Louisville ranking dead-last in the ACC in net punting (33.5 yards per punt), and Notre Dame is also a potent offensive team. Brian Kelly’s program ranks in the top 15 nationally in total offense and Notre Dame is averaging 40.5 points per game. The Irish can lean on an elite ground attack, ranking in the top five in the country with 270.7 yards per game, and that allows veteran quarterback Ian Book to attack weaknesses in the opposition.

Date Saturday, October 17, 2020
Time 2:30 p.m. ET
Site: Notre Dame Stadium
Notre Dame, IN
TV: NBC
Mike Tirico (play-by-play)
Tony Dungy (analyst)
Kathryn Tappen (sideline)

Latest from CBSSports on Louisville: Louisville is in need of a win after three consecutive defeats, but the Cardinals do have a few areas to be excited about in this matchup. Louisville is an above-average offensive team, averaging 424.3 yards per game this season, and that includes an impressive 177.8 rushing yards per game. Quarterback Micale Cunningham has accounted for more than 1,000 total yards and 12 touchdowns this

season, with Tutu Atwell operating as one of the best slot receivers in the nation. Atwell already has 25 catches for 281 yards and four touchdowns, and Louisville is tied for fifth in the ACC in averaging 8.0 yards per pass attempt. Cunningham also leads a passing offense that ranks in a tie for second in the league with nine touchdowns through the air. Defensively, Louisville will have its hands full with Notre Dame’s ground attack, but there is reason to believe it can hold up in the secondary. The Cardinals ranks as a top-five passing defense in the ACC this season, giving up only 233 yards per game.

Final Prediction from Irish Illustrated’s Tom Loy: This should be the toughest test for Notre Dame so far this season, but it’s one I expect the Fighting Irish to pass comfortably. Ironically, I wouldn’t do too much passing if it was to me. I believe they should run the ball a ton vs. the Cardinals, because Louisville has struggled to stop teams on the ground.

Look for Kyren Williams to have a big, big day for the Fighting Irish. The line is in the 16-point range and while I didn’t expect to do this before the season, I’m laying the points and taking Notre Dame in this one. I believe the Irish will cover that spread, especially with how much better the defense will look this week compared to last week vs. Florida State

Notre Dame 38 Louisville 17

Quote of the Week: Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly on returning to a full roster after the COVID breakout: “I think a number of answers to that question would center around, first, having a full roster and all of our guys back. As I mentioned at the outset, it’s the first time since September 8 that we haven’t had anybody in quarantine and isolation. So, when you have all

your guys back, you feel, from my perspective, you feel complete and that you have your team together. And you have depth. You have competition. You have practices that are a lot different because they’re structured in a manner that brings.that competitiveness out during your preparation. So, that’s extremely positive in a lot of areas. It also helps in making sure that the workload is balanced out amongst everybody on the team. As we’ve

worked to get everybody back, the workload was not balanced out. We were getting guys back but some had to carry a lot more of the load and quite frankly many of you didn’t notice but it affected guys in how they performed on Saturday because they carried way too much workload to get others back. They had to take a lot more reps than they normally do. Having said that, just having the full roster, just having the guys.back, not being in a position where our guys are concerned about

procedures and protocols, they know that what we put in place is effective. We went to a new testing procedure over the weekend. So, we tested on Sunday. We tested on Tuesday. Everything has come back clean so we feel good about the new procedures and protocols that were put in place because we had no positives. So, that builds a lot of momentum within the group as well.”

If the oddsmakers’ predictions hold true, the near future looks bright for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Notre Dame and the Louisville Cardinals will face off in an ACC battle at 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium. The Fighting Irish are cruising in on a three-game winning streak while U of L is stumbling in off of three consecutive losses.Notre Dame didn’t have too

much trouble with the Florida State Seminoles at home last week as they won 42-26. RB Kyren Williams had a stellar game for Notre Dame as he rushed for two TDs and 185 yards on 19 carries. Williams’ longest run was for 65 yards in the first quarter.seventh most passing touchdowns in the nation at nine. These opposing strengths should make for an exciting matchup. have defeated its first three opponents in Duke, South Florida and Florida State. On Saturday, the

Fighting Irish return home yet again in a matchup against the Louisville Cardinals (1-3). The Fighting Irish struggled a bit last week against the Seminoles following their return from a COVID outbreak on the team, but will look to return to their.usual form this week vs. the Cardinals. The last time these two teams met was in 2019 and despite a slow start, Notre Dame

pulled away late and defeated Louisville on the road, 35-17. Notre Dame is a heavy, heavy favorite in this one and barring a surprising upset, should remain undefeated and remain in the Top 5 of the AP Top 25 rankings. Irish Illustrated brings you all of the information you need to know ahead of Saturday’s game.

Meanwhile, the game between U of L and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets last Friday was not a total blowout, but with the Cardinals falling 46-27 on the road, it was darn close to turning into one. QB Macale Cunningham put forth a good effort for the losing side as he passed for two TDs and 229 yards on 33 attempts in addition to rushing for two TDs and 50 yards.

The Fighting Irish are now a perfect 3-0 while U of L sits at 1-3. A couple stats to keep in the back of your head while watching: Notre Dame has yet to allow a single passing touchdown. But the Cardinals come into the contest boasting the seventh most passing touchdowns in the nation at nine. These opposing strengths should make for an exciting matchup.

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