ISD Game Predictions: Vanderbilt

It’s Friday again, and that means game prediction time. Vanderbilt will enter ND Stadium with a 2-0 record and a lot of confidence.  The Irish will try to distance themselves from a disappointing game last weekend against Ball State.  Which Irish team will show up on Saturday?  Will Vanderbilt be up to the challenge?  

Mike Frank

This week we find out what the Irish are made of mentally in their preparation.  How angry were they with the results from last Saturday?  Did anyone step up this week to do something about it?  

I think Notre Dame rebounds this week.  While I think they’ll still have some ups and downs, I think Notre Dame will get the offense back on track.  Brandon Wimbush gets involved in the running game, and that opens some big plays for Irish receivers throughout the game.  

Miles Boykin and Chase Claypool grab a TD a piece, and Alize` Mack grabs another in a better passing day for Wimbush.  

The Irish defense plays another impressive game shutting down the Vandy running game, but they will have some success throwing the ball at times.    In the end, Irish pass rushers close out the game shutting down any hopes of a Vandy comeback.  

Notre Dame:  31   Vanderbilt:  16

Jamie Uyeyama

Notre Dame's offense has a lot to prove after a lackluster effort against Ball State. Every position group needs to play better to score versus a pretty good Vanderbilt defense. The Irish need to hit some big plays and Vandy has only give up five plays of 20 yards or more. So if ND is going to get things done, they'll have to grind out some drives.

I think they will do that enough times this week to get the win. I think we'll see a lot more Brandon Wimbush running the football and more diversity in the run calls to open things up. 

Vandy's offense will have their hands full too with a Notre Dame defense that has only given up four plays of 20 yards or longer. In the end I see Derek Mason's team giving the Irish a challenge early, but the home squad will have the edge against a program that has gone 5-16 on the road during Mason's tenure.

Notre Dame:  28  Vanderbilt:  20

Christian McCollum

The Irish bounce back from a sluggish effort against Ball State with a dominating performance against an SEC squad. 

Brandon Wimbush displays the potential that is so difficult to ignore, getting involved in the rushing game with 75 yards on the ground, which opens up some passing lanes, allowing him to add over 275 yards through the air with three total touchdowns. Tony Jones Jr. paces the Irish with 90 yards on the ground while Avery Davis scores a pair of touchdowns, one rushing and another receiving. Miles Boykin has another strong outing with 8 catches for 110 yards and a score. 

Defensively, Daelin Hayes and Jerry Tiller lead the front seven while Julian Love and Houston Griffith come up with the big plays on the back end. 

Vanderbilt is never able to get in any sort of rhythm offensively and 10 of their points come in the fourth quarter, long after the game has been decided. 

Notre Dame:  38   Vanderbilt:  17

Matt Freeman

The Irish come out on fire defensively by allowing just 87 total yards in the first half. Vanderbilt’s defense comes to play and Notre Dame takes a 14-0 lead into the half. Jafar Armstrong breaks the game open with a nice 69-yard touchdown to start the third quarter and it’s all she wrote. 

Brandon Wimbush finishes the game 11-for-18, 226 yards and 2 TDs. 

Justin Yoon hits from 34, 39 and 48. 

Notre Dame:  37  Vanderbilt:  17