Not only can Virginia get bowl eligible with a win, but it can all but ruin Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff hopes.
Just when it seemed like everything was going into the tank on a three-game losing streak, the Cavaliers pulled off a shocker against Pitt. Now it needs that one more win, but dealing with SMU next week and Virginia Tech to close will be tough.
The Irish just have to keep winning. There’s an off-chance it gets into the CFP at 10-2, but it’ll be a hard sell. It’s the final home game with a date against Army in the Bronx and at USC to close, but if the team stays as dominant has it’s been since the Northern Illinois debacle, there won’t be a problem.
The Notre Dame Leprechaun celebrates a touchdown scored during a NCAA college football game against Florida State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in South Bend.
© MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Notre Dame vs Virginia: How to Watch and Game Preview
Date: Saturday, November 16, 2024
Game Time: 3:30 pm ET
How to Watch: NBC
Venue: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
Teams: Notre Dame (8-1), Virginia (5-4)
CFN Bluesky | CFN X | CFN FB
- Week 12 Schedule, Predictions
Why Virginia Will Win
The Cavaliers have to crank up the defense, especially against the run.
They pitched a gem in the win over Pitt, was great against the run in the blowout loss to North Carolina, and in general, when the run D holds up, they win. They’re 5-2 when allowing four yards or fewer per carry, 0-2 when getting run over.
The offensive line isn’t great in pass protection, so it has to be about getting the ground game going. Even so, the passing game should push for 200 yards and …
Why Notre Dame Will Win
Yeah, the Virginia offensive line will be in for a day.
The Notre Dame pass rush has been terrific, the D overall a rock, and no one has been able to run well on this bunch other than Navy, and that didn’t matter.
For all the concerns about the Irish offensive line after a slew of injuries and issues, this bunch is flattening everyone. The team found the formula over the last several weeks - run, keep running, and then run some more. The ground game battered Navy, and last week it did whatever it wanted against Florida State.
Virginia has to keep the Irish to under five yards per carry to have a shot. The Irish are averaging six yards per pop.
Notre Dame vs Virginia: Who Will Win?
No, the Notre Dame schedule hasn’t been all that great considering Florida State is abysmal, to go along with a slew of games against midrange teams - at least since the opening weekend win over Texas A&M. But the Irish are doing what you’re supposed to against mediocre competition - it’s CRUSHING everyone.
The Northern Illinois game was a weird blip. Blow it off. The coaching staff called a miserable game. The seven-point win over Louisville wasn’t as tight as that, and the team has blasted everyone else by double-digits.
As long as there aren’t a slew of randomly weird turnovers, the formula will hold. Run the ball, play great D, repeat. On Senior Day, the Irish aren’t going to biff its CFP chances here.
Notre Dame vs Virginia Prediction, Betting Lines
Prediction: Notre Dame 38, Virginia 13
Line: Notre Dame -22, o/u: 50.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3.5
Must See Rating: 3
Week 12 Expert Picks
Texas at Arkansas
Clemson at Pitt | Utah at Colorado
Mich St at Illinois | Virginia at Notre Dame
Boston College at SMU | LSU at Florida
Nebraska at USC | Missouri vs South Carolina
Boise St at SJSU | Arizona St at Kansas St
Oregon at Wisconsin | Tennessee vs Georgia
Kansas at BYU | San Diego State at UNLV
