Notre Dame 2018 Football Schedule

Trust the Process:

I’ll be using a standard format across all Chop’s Takes:

1. I’ll take a look at the returning production (keeping in mind the evaluation of talent applicable to each ACC Program) and compare to each team they face on their schedule.
2. I’ll look at the opponent faced the week before, that game’s final score, and days passed before the current game being evaluated.
3. I’ll take a look at the opponent the ACC team faces after the present game, considering look-ahead games and rivalries, and days separating that game from the present.
4. I’ll weigh advantages of home versus away games for each game.
5. Where possible, I’ll take into consideration potential weather considerations (not Hurricanes or other natural disasters but rather seasonal conditions).

Notre Dame’s 2018 Football Schedule:

Michigan (September 1st, 2018 at 7:30 P.M. EST at home)

Television: NBC

Previous Game: N/A

Following Game: Western Michigan (September 8th, 2018 12:00 P.M. EST at home on FS1)

Rivalry Game

Prediction: Notre Dame LOSS

This isn’t quite the start the Fighting Irish will expect, especially in prime time at their home stadium. However, I believe Michigan is the real deal this season (and with an experienced quarterback at the helm no less). While the Fighting Irish field one of the top defenses in the country, they’ll also field one of the least experienced offenses as well. Michigan, on the other hand, is loaded with experience and talent on both sides of the ball. This’ll prove to overcome a significant home field advantage for the Irishmen. This game will be a close one, but Michigan gets the slight edge.

Ball State (September 8th, 2018 3:30 P.M. EST at home)

Television: NBC

Previous Game: Central CT State (August 30th, 2018 7:o0 P.M. EST at home on ESPN+)

Following Game: Indiana (September 15th, 2018 12:00 P.M. EST away on BTN)

Prediction: Notre Dame WIN

Notre Dame will want payback after their loss to Michigan at home. Ball State is the victim, and unfortunately, does not wield near the same talent as Notre Dame. This one should be an easy win.

Vanderbilt (September 15th, 2018 2:30 P.M. EST at home)

Previous Game: Nevada (September 8th, 2018 12:00 P.M. EST at home on SECN)

Following Game: South Carolina (September 22nd, 2018 at home)

Television: NBC

Prediction: Notre Dame WIN

Notre Dame is on a roll now, and with the superior talent, should snatch another win against Vanderbilt at home. Vanderbilt, while on the rise as a program, simply isn’t at the same competitive level as the Fighting Irish in a road environment. The talent on defense alone should stall a young Vanderbilt offense. I anticipate this game might prove to be ugly for the Commodores.

Wake Forest (September 22nd, 2018 away)

Previous Game: Boston College (September 15th 7:30 P.M. EST at home on ESPN)

Following Game: Rice (September 29th, 2018 at home)

Prediction: Notre Dame LOSS

Yes I am going out on a limb here and calling the UPSET! However, this isn’t all that far-fetched if you actually take a look at Notre Dame’s schedule. Notre Dame has arguably the best defense in the country this season. However, their offense will be middle-of-the-road or potentially bad. They’re lacking leadership on that side of the ball. Wake Forest is a sneaky-good Atlantic team nestled unsuspectingly in-between Vanderbilt and a titanic match-up versus Stanford. I think the Demon Deacons will catch the Irish looking-ahead at just the right time. Under any other circumstance, the Irish would win. In this scenario, I suspect the Demon Deacons will crash the Catholic party in Winston-Salem!

Stanford (September 29th, 2018 at 7:30 P.M. EST at home)

Previous Game: Oregon (September 22nd, 2018 away)

Following Game: Utah (October 6th, 2018 at home)

Television: NBC

Prediction: Notre Dame WIN

Stanford has a young team this year, and travelling to Notre Dame is never an easy task. I believe, for this reason, that Notre Dame will utterly crush the Stanford Cardinals after, again, an utterly embarrassing loss to Wake Forest.

Virginia Tech (October 6th, 2018 away)

Previous Game: Duke (September 29th, 2018 away)

Following Game: North Carolina (October 13th, 2018 away)

Prediction: Notre Dame LOSS

Blacksburg is a notoriously tough place to play, and I believe the Fighting Irish won’t anticipate as tough a fight as they’ll get from Virginia Tech. The Hokies are a balanced enough team that I fully expect they can score on Notre Dame and also hold Notre Dame from scoring enough points in Blacksburg that the Hokies will walk away from the game victorious. Tough break for the Fighting Irish this season, after hopes of a Playoff berth. If only they were affiliated with a Conference in Football…

Pittsburgh (October 13th, 2018 at 2:30 P.M. EST at home)

Previous Game: Syracuse (October 6th, 2018 at home)

Following Game: Duke (October 27th, 2018 at home)

Television: NBC

Prediction: Notre Dame WIN

This is a no-brainer. Travelling to Notre Dame is always tough, and the Fighting Irish simply have too much of a talent advantage for Pitt to overcome. Despite questions on offense, their unparalleled defense should win the day. Notre Dame will simply out-pace Pitt at home.

Navy (October 27th, 2018 8:00 P.M. EST at neutral )

Television: CBS

Previous Game: Houston (October 20th, 2018 3:30 P.M. EST at home on CBSSN)

Following Game: Cincinnati (November 3rd, 2018 away)

Rivalry Game

Prediction: Notre Dame WIN

Navy isn’t returning much experience on either side of the ball. While Notre Dame is fighting for a strong bowl appearance, they’ll still have plenty of experience and overwhelming talent to easily win this rivalry game.

Northwestern (November 3rd, 2018 away)

Television: ABC/ESPN/ESPN2

Previous Game: Wisconsin (October 27th, 2018 at home)

Following Game: Iowa (November 10th, 2018 away)

Prediction: Notre Dame WIN

Despite playing at Northwestern, the simple on-field talent and returning experience alone should be enough for Notre Dame to pack-away this team. Even the look-ahead for Florida State won’t stop the Irish from winning this match-up with relative ease.

Florida State (November 10th, 2018 at 7:30 P.M. EST away)

Television: NBC

Previous Game: NC State (November 3rd, 2018 away)

Following Game: Boston College (November 17th, 2018 at home)

Prediction: Notre Dame WIN

The three game stretch for the Noles will be rough. I believe Notre Dame will be talented enough that, when facing the Noles at home in the fall season, they’ll have a definitive home-field advantage. They’ll also be motivated to beat the Noles at this point in the season, and have them in a good spot to achieve victory. I think they’ll do just that. Sorry Seminole Nation.

Syracuse (November 17th, 2018 2:30 P.M. EST neutral)

Television: NBC

Previous Game: Louisville (Friday November 9th, 2018 7:00 P.M. EST at home)

Following Game: Boston College (November 24th, 2018 Rivalry away)

Prediction: Notre Dame WIN

Notre Dame might have a less than veteran offense this season, however the talent alone should be sufficient to handle Syracuse. Their defense is bar-none in the country in regards to returning production. It matters little the dynamic offense Dino pushes at Syracuse against the talent Notre Dame has. The neutral site doesn’t help Syracuse, despite being located in New York: Notre Dame fans are all over the country! I just don’t see any way Syracuse can win this game. Great down the close, Irishmen!

USC (November 24th, 2018 away)

Previous Game: UCLA (November 17th, 2018 away)

Following Game: N/A

Rivalry Game

Prediction: Notre Dame WIN

The Irish have close the season in a definitively strong manner. USC is lacking in returning experience, albeit a talented corps. Notre Dame has all the talent and experience needed to survive and win in a tough road environment at USC. I expect they’ll do so here. While not the season Notre Dame fans would expect, their total win-loss record is strong, given the schedule. They’re definitely one of the better teams in the country, this season.

My Predicted 2018 Regular Season Record for Notre Dame: 9-3 (3-2 ACC)

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