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Ian Book Out For Irish: Florida State vs. Notre Dame Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

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Florida State vs. Notre Dame fearless prediction and game preview.

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 10
Game Time: 7:30 ET
Venue: Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
Network: NBC

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Florida State (4-5) vs. Notre Dame (9-0) Game Preview

One Reason Why Florida State Will Win

And now the Noles don’t have to deal with Ian Book and the Irish passing game.

Book is out with a rib injury suffered against Northwestern, meaning it’s Brandon Wimbush in, and that’s it for the razor-sharp, clutch passing game. Florida State might have a whole slew of issues, but the run defense isn’t among them.

The Noles have the defensive line to more than hold up against the Irish ground attack, and they’ve got the back seven that can get around the ball with the speed to attack the inside runs of Dexter Williams.

On the other side, Notre Dame has to prepare for both FSU quarterback prospects. Deondre Francois has been solid so far this year, but he was hurt and out for the NC State game. James Blackman stepped in and ripped it up for 421 yards and four scores.

The Irish secondary has been solid for the most part, but Vanderbilt’s Kyle Shurmur and Virginia Tech’s Ryan Willis both went off against it. As the underdog against the unbeaten team pushing for the College Football Playoff, FSU can let it rip.

One Reason Why Notre Dame Will Win

The Irish turned the pass rush loose at just the right time, and it’s about to unleash the fury against a horrible FSU offensive line.

The Noles aren’t going to run the ball a lick, mostly because they can’t. To have any shot, the defense has to load up on Wimbush, and the passing game has to rock. Jerry Tillery and the Irish defensive front, though, should make that second part a problem.

The Irish teed off on Clayton Thorson with five sacks in the win over Northwestern. Stanford can’t run, and Notre Dame attacked KJ Costello with six sacks in the win. FSU allows over three sacks per game, and now it’s about to be under siege.

Offensively, Wimbush and the running game should be fine. They don’t have to explode, they just have to keep the chains moving and come up with the occasional score – and control the clock.

FSU is dead last in the nation in third down conversions – mainly because the lack of a running game leads to long third down tries.

Control the clock, don’t give away any easy chances, and win the game with the defensive line. Notre Dame can do that.

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What’s Going To Happen

This was going to be a dangerous game for Notre Dame even if Book was going. Now it’s a big problem considering Wimbush just can’t throw well enough to make the Noles worry.

But he did beat Michigan.

The Irish will get out alive after the Nole passing game rolls for well over 300 yards to keep this close. It’s the final Notre Dame home game of the season, and it’ll play well enough when it has to down the stretch, but it’s going to be a four quarter fight.

Fearless Prediction & Line

Notre Dame 30, Florida State 27
Line: Notre Dame -17.5, o/u: 54.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 4

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Must See Rating: 3.5

5: Watergate (on History Channel)
1: 52nd CMA Awards