ISD Game Predictions: Indiana
It’s Friday, and that means game prediction once again for the ISD staff. The Irish put their 10-game winning streak on the line, and hope to continue their march to the National Championship. Indiana wants to prove their the best team in the state. Which team will come out on top?
Mike Frank
I don’t know why I’m not concerned about this game, but I’m not. The Irish have risen to the occasion for 10 straight games, and there is more on the line in this game than the previous 10. True, ND will be facing a tougher opponent than many of the previous 10, but I just don’t think Indiana can play four quarters with ND.
The Hoosiers have a solid team, and they’re well-coached, but in their two previous games against good competition, they struggled to move the ball. I expect a tight game for a half or so, but I think ND pulls away late in the third quarter.
Notre Dame 31, Indiana 20
Christian McCollum
The Irish don't run away this one the way they've run away with many of their games the last couple months, but they control it throughout.
Jeremiyah Love, JD Price and Riley Leonard rack up major rushing yards the first three quarters as Notre Dame dominates possession and when they need to in the end, Leonard is able to beat them over the top.
The Hoosier offense certainly moves the ball through the air in much of the first half, but Al Golden's unit stiffens in the second half, allowing just three points.
Xavier Watts is a part of two more turnovers during his final game inside Notre Dame Stadium.
Notre Dame 31, Indiana 17
Greg Flammang
After all of that, Notre Dame is right where they wanted to be.
12 games, 1 awful loss, mostly dominance, and Marcus Freeman’s team welcomes Kurt Cignetti’s troops into Notre Dame stadium with a berth against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on the line.
You hear the name Indiana and think it should be a walk for the Irish, but no team gets this far playing bad football or being a fraud. And Indiana is strong where any team needs to be strong, on the defensive line.
They haven’t been tested often, but they’ve shown enough to conclude this will be one of, if not the most difficult matchups the ND OL has faced this year. The X factor though, is who the line is blocking for, three of the most explosive runners in the tournament.
I’m a little more dubious of the Indiana offense. When tested against elite defenses, they’ve looked nowhere near the same. And I expect that to continue on Friday.
It’ll be tough, it’ll be stressful, and it’ll be a grind. But the Irish get it done.
Notre Dame 28, Indiana 16
Matt Freeman
Notre Dame has faced teams for the last 10 weeks with less talent and has taken care of business. Friday night will be much of the same. Notre Dame isn’t going to let the moment get too big for them as I think that one play, one life messaging has taken over. I like Riley Leonard to throw for two touchdowns.
Notre Dame 34, Indiana 17
Jamie Uyeyama
This Indiana team is the best one Notre Dame has faced this season. There have been other opponents with more talented individuals, but they haven't gone up against a team that has been as complete as Indiana. That's why the Hoosiers are in the College Football Playoff.
Notre Dame earned their way into the CFP too and they are the better football team. I think we'll see that play out on both sides of the ball on Friday night. It will be a grind for Notre Dame's run game to get going against a good defense, but eventually the dam will break with Riley Leonard having a big day.
I think we'll see Indiana have some initial success against Notre Dame's defense, but things will get clamped down as the game progresses. I don't think they'll be able to win enough versus man coverage and Notre Dame's pass rush will get to Kurtis Rourke in the second half.
The Irish are in control in the fourth quarter and win by a couple of scores.
Notre Dame 27 Indiana 13