ISD Game Predictions: South Carolina
We have one more game prediction for the 2022 season. The Irish will try to close out their rollercoaster season with a win over South Carolina on Friday. Both teams have some key pieces missing from their 2022 team as they prepare for Friday, so it will be interesting to see which team will show up to win the game. Will the Irish bounce back after a dismal performance against USC in their last game?
Mike Frank
It’s more than a month after Notre Dame’s egg in So. Cal, but I’m still scratching my head why that would ever happen to begin with? Something was just “off” in that game, and the Irish just didn’t play like they had been playing. Notre Dame’s offensive line played poorly, as did the Irish run defense. That has to change for ND to have any chance to win on Friday.
We will get to see Tyler Buchner again, so that’s a good thing. I like the fact that Jarrett Patterson and Josh Lugg want to play in this game. That tells me that they’re not happy with their last result and want to do something about it. I sure hope so.
There are two key factors in this game, in my opinion, and those are pressuring Spencer Rattler, and the Irish being successful with their run game. If they can do both, Notre Dame will win. If they can’t, it could be another frustrating game and result for the Irish.
I think Notre Dame bounces back and gets the win.
Notre Dame 31, South Carolina 21
Christian McCollum
The Irish offense starts a little slow as it welcomes a new/old QB and without its top playmaker in Michael Mayer.
But the offense is exciting and effective for the final three quarters. Tyler Buchner, Tobias Merriweather and Audric Estime lead the way.
Defensively, the Irish are suffocating throughout. They allow the individual big play here and there, but overall, they’re stout.
Bowl wins may not be the easy springboard into the next season like they’ve been in the past, but winning sure beats losing.
Notre Dame 28, South Carolina 13
Matt Freeman
Notre Dame has an advantage at just about every position but quarterback, which is also the one position that can win a game if you're as talented as Spencer Rattler. The good news is Rattler has been wildly inconsistent and he'll face a Notre Dame defense that has seen literally the three best quarterbacks in the country this season.
I expect Benjamin Morrison to have at least one interception and then it will come down to the Irish running game. Notre Dame has run the ball well for most of the year, yet the Irish couldn't run the ball against USC to end the regular season. It was crucial for Notre Dame to run the ball and the Trojans stopped it and Friday will be much of the same as Tyler Buchner hasn't played since week two.
Notre Dame will wear the depleted Gamecock roster down in the second half and win this one on cruise control.
Notre Dame 31, South Carolina 17
Greg Flammang
Lots of things have changed for both teams since they last took the field in the regular season.
Notre Dame is down its best player in tight end Michael Mayer, along with Isaiah Foskey at defensive end and Cam Hart at cornerback. They also happen to be down their starting quarterback, after Drew Pyne fled the team for Arizona State.
For their part South Carolina is down 11 starters due to opt outs and transfers. Their quarterback, Spencer Rattler remains, however, and keeps what they want to do offensively intact.
There is one unit that is completely unaffected, the Notre Dame offensive line. South Carolina had a bad run defense going into the game, and figured to have a tall task even with everyone available. Add to that the insertion of Tyler Buchner at quarterback for the Irish and the running game should hum along nicely for Notre Dame and carry the day.
Notre Dame 30, South Carolina 23
Andrew Mentock
Notre Dame and South Carolina are without many top players who have either entered the transfer portal or opted out to prepare for the 2023 NFL Draft. While the Gamecocks likely lost more talent and production, the Irish must replace a quarterback in Drew Pyne, who started the final 10 games of the regular season.
Now QB Tyler Buchner will return to the starting lineup. He may be a more talented player than Pyne, but he still hasn't played in a game since early September.
Meanwhile, QB Spencer Rattler will suit up for South Carolina after ending the regular season on a high note with wins over Clemson and Tennessee. This proves to be the difference as the Gamecocks pull out a victory late in the Gator Bowl.
South Carolina 31, Notre Dame 30
Jamie Uyeyama
If all things were equal, I'd be picking Notre Dame to win this game because of the match up. All things aren't equal, though. Despite the Irish missing some key pieces, South Carolina is missing even more players for this game and I think that tilts things in favor of Notre Dame even more.
Notre Dame runs for a boatload of yards and Tyler Buchner makes enough plays through the air to give a glimpse of what we might have missed with him out all season. On defense the Irish get to Spencer Rattler enough to force a couple of turnovers and stop a one-dimensional offense.
Notre Dame 31, South Carolina 17