ISD Game Predictions: Stanford
The Irish will travel to Stanford hoping to keep their playoff dreams alive, but they haven’t had a whole lot of luck out in Palo Alto in recent years. This is clearly one of the worst Cardinal teams in memory, but that often doesn’t matter when Notre Dame travels to Stanford. Can the Irish finish their season strong, or will the Cardinal play the spoiler role again?
Mike Frank
I know Notre Dame rarely plays well when they play at Stanford, but I just don’t see this team lacking focus going into this game. They’ve handled all obstacles well, especially down the stretch. I think you will see a focused, discplined and efficient Notre Dame team. It would not surprise me to see a slow start for Notre Dame on offense, but they’ll get it going by the second quarter.
The Cardinal just doesn't have much in regard to skill position talent, so I can’t imagine they will score much on this Irish defense. The Irish should make Stanford’s offense look like many others they've faced in recent weeks, despite having a talented QB in McKee.
Kyren Williams shows people why he’s one of the best running backs in college football in this game.
Notre Dame 41, Stanford 10
Matt Freeman
Stanford is a bad football team, but somehow the Cardinal beat Oregon so the Irish need to come out ready to play. There are many distractions this week for Notre Dame, but for the most part, facing adversity and staying focused has been a strength of the program in 2021.
I expect Kyren Williams to have a big game and it wouldn’t shock me to see Chris Tyree rip off a big run. It could be another sack party for the Irish defense, especially if Tanner McKee gets knocked out as he’s dealing with what seems as a nagging leg injury.
Notre Dame 38, Stanford 10
Jamie Uyeyama
This is the worst Stanford team that Brian Kelly has faced while at Notre Dame and it's not close. They are bad on offense, bad on defense, and look like a defeated team.
I don't see Stanford magically getting better at stopping the run and they've been gashed on the ground this month. Both Cal and Utah averaged over nine yards per carry against them and it wouldn't be surprising to see the Irish do something similar.
Stanford will play hard in the first quarter and a half, but then I see things falling apart for them. Kyren Williams goes off and Notre Dame pours it on to punctuate the regular season.
Notre Dame 45 Stanford 10
Christian McCollum
The Irish are able to overcome a raucous, near-capacity crowd, a motivated Stanford squad and a masterful game plan from David Shaw.
Notre Dame caps its regular season in impressive fashion, further proving the point that it is a different team since the bye week.
Jack Coan and the offense once again looks sharp, yet they’re overshadowed by yet another dominant performance by Notre Dame’s defense.
The only thing the Irish can do know is wait and see what their fate is.
Notre Dame 38, Stanford 3
John Brice
It’s hard to imagine how one of college football’s most chaotic seasons includes Stanford aiding Notre Dame (and myriad others) by earlier dispatching Oregon, thus ensuring the Ducks’ second loss left their College Football Playoff feather plucked.
And now Notre Dame must and will polish a Cardinal team that has looked absolutely rudderless. They were non-competitive against a Cal team besieged by college football’s most Draconian COVID policies anywhere.
By a Cal team whose head coach, Justin Wilcox, is a prime candidate at Washington and by all accounts looking to escape the Berkeley dysfunction.
So, Stanford isn’t good. Notre Dame has improved about as much as any team this season, beginning to end.
This is the type of game where even an Irish squad besieged by injuries can showcase superior depth and skill. And will.
Notre Dame 34, Stanford 6