The undefeated No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish will be taking on the Pittsburgh Panthers this weekend in an ACC battle. Thus far, Pitt has posted a 2-3 record within the conference, struggling to come away with consistent victories. It certainly will not be getting any easier for them here.
Going against the No. 3 team in the country is a huge challenge, and Pitt hopes to rise to the occasion. A strong start can go a long way, and the good news is that they have a quarterback in Kenny Pickett, who can seriously sling the pigskin. If the offense isn’t ready to go right away, though, it could be a long day.
On the other hand, Notre Dame has to keep doing their thing. Fresh off an 11-2 season, they have won their first four games in 2020. This is a very different season, given the global pandemic, but nothing seems capable of slowing the Irish down. Another win here, and they’ll be looking at 5-0.
Despite being the road team, Notre Dame will be a 10.5-point favorite. The over/under is set at 43. Kickoff is scheduled at 3:30 P.M. Eastern on ABC
#3 Notre Dame Seeks 5-0 Start
Yet to lose a game so far, Brian Kelly’s team will be hoping to keep it going against a stout Pittsburgh offense. The defense of Notre Dame has been crushing it so far, allowing just 45 total points over five games. The fact that Ian Book hasn’t had to dominate for them to win handily is extremely impressive.
Book has completed just 58 of 94 passes for 713 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception. He’s rushed for five touchdowns, while Kyren Williams is averaging 121 rushing yards per game, plus he has five scores on the ground. The Irish have 13 rushing touchdowns on the year.
Shaun Crawford and TaRiq Bracy have been leading the secondary, each with three passes defended. They’ll hope to add to that total in this game.
Pittsburgh Looking for Conference Upset
While the odds don’t favor Pitt by any stretch, that doesn’t mean the Panthers are without a chance. Pittsburgh is averaging 30 points per game, led by the impressive play of Pickett. He’s thrown for nearly 1,400 yards and eight touchdowns, with three interceptions on the year.
The run game leaves a lot to be desired. Vincent Davis is leading the way with just over 200 yards for the year. Jordan Addison has continued to impress, catching 38 passes for 444 yards and three scores, giving NFL teams something to watch.
Patrick Jones II is leading the defensive line with seven sacks, with Rashad Weaver adding another 4.5. The Panthers have also come up with seven interceptions. They’ll need all of these guys to play their roles well to have a chance.
Notre Dame Comes Away Victorious
Sorry Pitt, but this just isn’t your week. Book will finally be slinging the football, and it’ll lead to a multi-TD margin of victory for the Irish.
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