irish insider
Staff Predictions: Syracuse
Observer Sports Staff | Friday, November 16, 2018
Tobias Hoonhout — Managing Editor
Few would’ve thought this year’s Shamrock Series would be the marquee late-season matchup on Notre Dame’s schedule.
Elizabeth Greason — Assistant Managing Editor
With every game, I get more and more nervous. But at the same time, when I watch Notre Dame play, I’m reminded that this is a very good team.
The added level of hype and distraction around the Shamrock Series make me nervous, as well, but, at the same time, the Irish are undefeated in the Series. Ian Book is (supposedly) healthy, and Notre Dame’s offense is ready to go up against one of the top run defenses in the country. It has faced some of the better ones before and proved victorious, so assuming Book can throw the ball against the Orange, points shouldn’t be an issue.
Defensively, I’m not concerned about anything the Orange can throw at Notre Dame. Have you seen Julian Okwara and Te’von Coney lately? Unstoppable. Eric Dungey will be able to put points on the board, for sure, but he won’t impose his will.
Joe Everett — Sports Editor
Now, the Irish will take on Syracuse inside Yankee Stadium. Will it be another defensive nail-biter? I don’t think so.
Charlotte Edmonds — Associate Sports Editor
With every game that passes by and win the Irish rack up, I’m struck by the various ways they’ve managed to continue this undefeated streak, with new units stepping up each weekend. Now’s the time for that all to come together.
With questions looming regarding Notre Dame’s strength of schedule, Saturday’s game against Syracuse will be the opportunity for them to silence those doubters and I expect them to comfortably rise to the occasion.
This is not to discredit Syracuse. They’re a good team who’ve far exceeded expectations. Unfortunately for the Orange though, that can only take them so far. This team has proven that they can hang with the elite, taking Clemson down to the wire, while also stumbling against a lackluster North Carolina team, barely pulling out the win. Experience will win out on Saturday. With the emergence of the receiving unit in the latter half of the season, combined with the steady dominance of Dexter Williams and the strong showing expected by Notre Dame fans, this could be one of those games talked about for years to come as having solidified Notre Dame’s return to the elite field.
Connor Mulvena — Associate Sports Editor
I don’t like the mojo surrounding this game for the Irish. They moved it from a home game to Yankee Stadium, which seems like a strange move. It certainly seems like one of those Notre Dame moves that could come back to bite the program in the behind later on. Also, there hasn’t really been that crazy late season big upset this season (I wouldn’t count Ohio State’s loss to Purdue in this category), and I fear it’s coming soon for someone. And I absolutely loathe these uniforms, but that’s another topic for another day.