Here is my Notre Dame - North Carolina St. Preview.

[letsgond]

Notre Dame QB's: Brandon Wimbush returned for the Irish after missing the North Carolina game due to injury and had a solid performance in the win over USC. While accuracy does remain a concern for Wimbush, he still managed to make plays in the air in addition to the ground. On the season he has completed 78 of 151 passes for a completion rate of 51.7 percent with 902 passing yards, 8 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. His strength at running the ball continues to be a strength for the Irish with 82 attempts for 508 yards with an average of 6.2 yards per rush and 10 rushing touchdowns (tied a school record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a season). Backup quarterback Ian Book has had a fair amount of playing time and has completed 20 of 41 passes for 197 yards with a completion rate of 48.8 percent along with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. On the ground, Book has 19 attempts for 96 yards with a 5.1 yard average.


Notre Dame RB's: Josh Adams continues to have a very impressive season for Notre Dame this season as he has 105 attempts for 967 yards with 8 touchdowns and an average of 9.2 yards per rush. Adams also has 9 catches for 84 yards with an average of 9.3 yards per catch. Dexter Williams missed the USC game due to injury, but should be ready to go against North Carolina St. and he has 20 carries for 214 yards with an average of 10.7 yards and 4 rushing touchdowns along with 1 catch for 8 yards with an 8 yard average and 1 touchdown. Tony Jones Jr. has 27 carries for 139 yards with 2 touchdowns and a 5.2 yard average. Deon McIntosh has 44 attempts for 241 yards with 4 touchdowns and a 5.5 yard average.


Notre Dame WR's and TE's: Equanimeous St. Brown continues to the lead Notre Dame when it comes to receiving this season as he has 18 catches for 240 yards with 3 touchdowns and an average of 13.3 yards per catch. Chase Claypool has 13 receptions for 157 yards with 1 touchdown and a 12.1 yard average. Alize Mack leads all tight ends with 17 receptions for 154 yards and a 9.1 yard average. Durham Smythe has had big receptions with 7 catches for 130 yards and an average of 18.6 yards. Miles Boykin has 4 receptions for 84 yards with a 21 yard average and 1 touchdown, while Chris Finke has 5 catches for 84 yards and an average of 16.8 yards. Cameron Smith has 8 receptions for 60 yards with 1 touchdown and a 7.5 yard average. Kevin Stepherson has only been able to play recently but has been making plays with 4 catches for 55 yards with a 13.8 yard average and 1 touchdown, and he also has made an impact on the ground with 2 attempts for 24 yards for a 12 yard average. Nic Weishar has 3 receptions for 20 yards with 1 touchdown and a 6.7 yard average.


Notre Dame OL: The offensive line continues to be great at run blocking with the 6th ranked rushing offense in the nation that averages 317.9 yards per game with an average of 7.1 yards per rush and 28 rushing touchdowns. In terms of protection they have allowed 36 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and 32 quarterback hurries this season.

 

[letsgond]

Notre Dame DL: The defensive line has continued to play very well this season and has been one that is deep as well. Jerry Tillery leads all defensive linemen in tackles with 31 tackles. 5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 7 quarterback hurries, and 1 forced fumble. Daelin Hayes has 19 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 pass breakup, 3 quarterback hurries, and 2 fumble recoveries. Jay Hayes has 18 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 pass breakups, 3 quarterback hurries, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 safety. Andrew Trumbetti has 18 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 3 quarterback hurries, while Jonathan Bonner has 16 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 2 quarterback hurries. Julian Okwara has 9 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 1 interception, 5 quarterback hurries, and 1 forced fumble. Khalid Kareem has 8 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 pass breakup, 3 quarterback hurries, and 1 fumble recovery. Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa has 6 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, while Kurt Hinish has 5 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, and 1 quarterback hurry.


Notre Dame LB's: Even though Greer Martini had to miss the last game due to injury, the linebacker unit of the Irish continued to perform well. Te'von now leads the Irish in tackles with 53 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 quarterback hurries, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 forced fumble. Nyles Morgan has 51 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 4 quarterback hurries, and 1 forced fumble. Drue Tranquill continues to make plays with 41 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 pass breakup, 2 quarterback hurries, 3 fumble recoveries, and 1 forced fumble. Greer Martini missed the last game due to injury but still has 39 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 interception, and 2 forced fumbles. Asmar Bilal has 13 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss, while Jonathan Jones has 8 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 pass breakup.


Notre Dame DB's: Julian Love leads all defensive backs in tackles with 28 tackles, 1 interception returned for a touchdown and 8 pass breakups. Nick Coleman has 24 tackles, 1 pass breakup, and 1 quarterback hurry. Nick Watkins has 23 tackles, 1 interception, 6 pass breakups, and 1 quarterback hurry, while Jalen Elliott has 21 tackles and 1 pass breakup. Shaun Crawford has made quite a few plays this season with 16 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 4 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries, and 1 forced fumble. Devin Studstill has 13 tackles and 1 quarterback hurry, while Jordan Genmark-Heath has 9 tackles.


Notre Dame Special Teams: Justin Yoon is 7 of 10 field goals to make it 70 percent with a long of 46 yards and is 38 of 38 on extra points. Tyler Newsome has punted 37 times for an average of 45 yards per punt with a long of 59 yards, 3 touchbacks, 10 fair caught, 12 inside the 20, and 15 of 50 or more yards. Justin Yoon also handles kickoffs with 44 kickoffs for average of 62.9 yards with 15 touchbacks and 1 out of bounds. C.J. Sanders has been the primary returner on kickoffs with 14 returns for 317 yards with an average of 22.6 yards and a long of 38. Chris Finke has improved a bit on punt returns with 16 returns for 80 yards for an average of 5 yards and a long of 23 yards.


Notre Dame Run Offense vs. North Carolina St. Run Defense: The Irish have one of the best run offenses in the nation that averages 317.9 yards per game. They face one of the best run defenses in the nation that is ranked 6th in the nation that allows 91.3 rushing yards per game and for opponents to average 3 yards per rush and have allowed 6 rushing touchdowns. This will be the third top 10 rush defense that the Irish face this season, and the previous two were Michigan St. and Georgia. The Irish did not do well against Georgia (ranked 4th in the nation but did much better against the Spartans (ranked 8th in the nation). Michigan St. actually had their worst performance against the run by far against the Irish, when they allowed 182 rushing yards and 3 rushing touchdowns (they have only allowed 5 rushing touchdowns all season) and a 4.6 yard average. North Carolina St. has allowed 4 of 7 opponents to rush for 100 or more yards this season with the highest being 133 by Division 1-AA Furman. The other 3 opponents that had 100 or more all averaged 4 yards per rush. This means that it is quite possible for the Irish to gain more than 100 rushing yards and could have a decent performance on the ground as aside from Louisville, the Wolfpack have not played any notable rushing offenses. With Dexter Williams likely back, the Irish will have a good rotation here along with Brandon Wimbush. Look for the Irish to continue to run the ball well against the Wolfpack.


Edge: Notre Dame


Notre Dame Pass Offense vs. North Carolina St. Pass Defense: Notre Dame has not been perfect with passing as the pass offense is 118th in the nation averaging 157 passing yards per game with a completion rate of 50.8 percent with 9 passing touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Brandon Wimbush hasn't always been accurate through the air, but does make plays count when there are completions. The Irish face a really bad pass defense of the Wolfpack that allows 287 passing yards per game and for opposing teams to complete 57.6 percent of their passes along with 10 passing touchdowns allowed and have 6 interceptions. If Brandon Wimbush can be accurate and make plays then the Irish will be able to move the ball well and lead to an effective offense overall. North Carolina St. does get into the backfield often with 46 tackles for loss, 18 sacks, and 27 quarterback hurries. The Irish have players that can make plays in the passing game and that will be important.


Edge: Notre Dame


North Carolina St. Run Offense vs. Notre Dame Run Defense: The Wolfpack have the 50th ranked rush offense in the nation that averages 177.4 yards per game with 4.6 yards per rush and 19 rushing touchdowns. They primarily use Nyheim Hines who has 116 attempts for 648 yards with 6 rushing touchdowns and a 5.6 yard average. Hines isn't the only back used as Reggie Gallaspy II has 63 carries for 249 yards with 4 touchdowns and a 4 yard average. Jaylen Samuels has 31 attempts for 191 yards and a 6.2 yard average with 7 rushing touchdowns. Samuels also makes plays in the passing game as the teams second leading receiver with 54 receptions for 453 yards with 3 touchdowns and a 8.4 yard average. North Carolina St. faces a 30th ranked rushing defense that allows 126.1 yards per game and an average 3.6 yards per rush, but have only allowed 1 rushing touchdown all season long. Samuels can make plays on the ground and in the air, and Hines gets most of the carries but this isn't a strong rushing offense.


Edge: Notre Dame


North Carolina St. Pass Offense vs. Notre Dame Pass Defense: North Carolina St. has the 24th ranked pass offense in the nation that averages 290 yards per game with a completion rate of 69.3 percent with 11 passing touchdowns and zero interceptions. Ryan Finley is efficient and accurate with passing as he has completed 172 passes on 248 attempts for a completion rate of 69.4 percent with 1,968 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Finley spreads the ball around well with a trio of wide receivers and running back Jaylen Samuels having a bulk of the receiving stats. Kelvin Harmon is the leading receiver with 36 catches for 547 yards with a 15.2 yard average and 2 touchdowns. Stephen Louis has 25 receptions for 352 yards with 2 touchdowns and a 14.1 yard average. Jakobi Meyers has 26 catches for 309 yards with a 11.9 yard average and 3 touchdowns. They face a Notre Dame pass defense that is 85th in the nation allowing 235.3 yards per game and for opposing teams to complete 56.4 percent of their passes along with 12 passing touchdowns and 7 interceptions. The Irish will need to contain the passing offense as it is one that has no interceptions and is very accurate at that. Making plays in the backfield will be important as they face a Wolfpack team that allows 44 tackles for loss but just 8 sacks and 8 quarterback hurries.


Edge: Even


Intangibles: The Irish are coming off a 49-14 win over USC that was the best win over USC in quite some time. The Wolfpack are coming off a bye and while they are 6-1 have not been truly tested all season. The best team they played, a South Carolina team that is 5-2, they lost to. While another opponent they played, Marshall, is 6-1 this season and have played a weak schedule as well. North Carolina St. played a Division 1-AA team in Furman and since then have played conference opponents who have been average this season or are less impressive than normal like 2-4 Florida St. and 4-3 Louisville. The Irish need to be able to consistently make plays in the passing game against a very weak pass defense and continue to run the ball well as they have all season but are facing another top rushing defense.


Prediction: Notre Dame 31, North Carolina St. 14

 

[Direwolf33]

That’s a homer prediction if I have ever seen one.

 

[D_Master]

well you're on an ND site so its not surprising

 

[iwish]

That’s a homer prediction if I have ever seen one.

Hmmm, let me guess what your prediction is....

 

[NotreDomer1]

Keys to the game for me are:

1) Wimbush must continue to not turn the ball over. He has done very well in this regard and should be commended for it. He's at times inconsistent, but he's not throwing INTs either.

2) Mack and Smythe are huge in this game. Two TE sets are ADV ND. Not only for their run blocking, but for their pass catching ability from Run 1st looks.

3) Claypool continues as a very fast riser. We need this guy in the game full time. He is an EXCELLENT run blocking WR. If he can continue to get open like he has been, he's not coming off of the field IMO.

4) Defense is going to have to continue to play aggressive. NCST won't likely turn into a turn over machine so any negative yardage plays defensively will be huge and help get them off of the field.

5) Special teams need to play average and not allow big plays.

 

[SiberianKnightmare]

NC State has only seen 1 other true dual threat QB this year. Jackson is incredible, but the rest of UL is not. They haven't seen a dual threat QB that is paired with the running game we have.