Game Preview: #6 Notre Dame vs. Wake Forest

Wake Forest travels to Indiana to take on the sixth ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Notre Dame is coming off a 42-30 win over Pittsburgh last week to improve their record to 8-1. As for the Demon Deacons, they lost a tough one to Louisville 20-19 and dropped to 3-6. This game marks the last time these Notre Dame seniors will play at Notre Dame stadium so expect a much more motivated Irish team.

While Wake Forest is fighting to become bowl eligible, the Fighting Irish would love nothing more than a blow out win and some help from one of the five teams in front of them in the College Football Playoff rankings.

Players to Watch Today

QB, DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame

Wake Forest has the 18th ranked pass defense in College Football, with CJ Prosise’s status up in the air Kizer will need to expose this secondary and feed his top target Will Fuller early and often. Kizer has had a solid season replacing the previous starter Malik Zaire. I expect Kizer to get going early and to sling the ball around the field.

LB, Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame

If Notre Dame wants to end this game in a hurry, Jaylon Smith needs to wreak havoc on defense. This Wake Forest offense is very bad and Smith should let his presence be felt from the first snap to the last. He is my number one ranked linebacker for the 2016 class and I fully expect a double digit tackle day from this stud linebacker.

Prediction

I honestly can’t see this game being close at all. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are a 27 point favorite depending on what sportsbook you are looking at. Notre Dame should cover that spread easy on Senior Night and prepare for next week’s game against Boston College. ND 42 WF 13