2011 Bowl Predictions: Notre Dame Will Smoke Florida State in Throwback Match-Up

About 15 or 20 years ago, a postseason game featuring Notre Dame and Florida State would have been one of, if not the premier postseason matchup of the year in college football. Needless to say, things have changed.

Since 1993, Notre Dame has missed out on a bowl berth six times, they've finished the season ranked by the AP only seven times and their record in bowl games is an abysmal 2-9.

They have won two straight bowl games and they hope to make it three tonight against the Florida State Seminoles.

The Noles slump has only lasted five years. From 2006 to the present, the Noles haven't missed a bowl game, but the prestige of the games have been a far cry from what they are used to in Tallahassee.

This will be their second appearance at the Champs Sports Bowl, and the Seminoles haven't been to a BCS bowl game since 2006.

This year, the Noles are decimated by injury and a lack of experienced talent, especially on the offensive line. They will start an unbelievable four true freshman on the offensive line against Notre Dame.

Bobby Hart, Austin Barron, Josue Matias and Tre’ Jackson will get the start from Florida St. Head Coach Jimbo Fisher. Is this a risky proposition for the Noles? No, it's a necessity, they simply don't have other capable, more experienced options.

It does bode well for the future of the Noles D-Line as this group will have valuable experience together for the next year or two, but tonight, it will be the reason they fall to Notre Dame.

Brandon Jenkins and Bjoern Warner should have a field day applying pressure on EJ Manuel and stuffing the Noles 99th ranked rush offense.

The Noles are much better equipped defensively, but they won't sustain enough drives to hold Tommy Rees, Michael Floyd and the Irish offense down.

Notre Dame will land a much needed, relatively high profile victory for their program with a 20-6 victory over the Noles.