Notre Dame Football: Predicting Every Regular Season Game for Fighting Irish

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are coming off back-to-back eight-win seasons under head coach Brian Kelly and are looking to enter the BCS picture in 2012.

The Irish boast a challenging schedule this fall, but will be favored to win in many of their matchups.

So, how will Notre Dame fare in 2012?

Here, we predict every single regular season game for the Fighting Irish this fall, starting with their season opener in Dublin, Ireland on September 1.

September 1: Vs. Navy

In what is sure to be a unique atmosphere, the Irish will face off against rival Navy in Dublin, Ireland in the two teams' season opener.

Notre Dame crushed Navy last season, defeating the Midshipmen 56-14 in South Bend. The Irish scored 35 first-half points in that game and held Navy to just 229 total yards.

In 2012, expect the score to be different, but not the end result. The Irish move to 1-0 after a rivalry win across the pond.

Notre Dame 38, Navy 21

Record: 1-0

September 8: Vs. Purdue

Last season, the Irish opened up the month of October by blasting Purdue on the road, winning 38-10.

Notre Dame nearly doubled Purdue's total yards count, and it gave the Boilermakers every reason to shoot for revenge in 2012.

Still, one year later, Purdue can only boast a mediocre offense and a porous defense. That is why the Fighting Irish will roll in their home opener in South Bend. 

Notre Dame 27, Purdue 13

Record: 2-0

September 15: At Michigan State

Notre Dame will look win its first road game of 2012 on September 15 when the Irish visit East Lansing to battle the No. 8-ranked Michigan State Spartans. 

The Spartans nearly won the Big Ten Championship in 2011, but still couldn't overcome Notre Dame on the road, falling 31-13 in South Bend last year.

The loss was Michigan State's first of the year, and it marked Notre Dame's first win of 2011. This September, though, the Spartans will ride their dominant home-field advantage to a win, avenging their beatdown from a season ago.

Michigan State 21, Notre Dame 17

Record: 2-1

September 22: Vs. Michigan

Notre Dame and Michigan will square off in an encore of what might have been the best college football game of 2011.

The Irish took a 31-28 lead with 30 seconds left, only to watch the Wolverines come right down the field and win in the waning moments, scoring a touchdown with two seconds left to win 35-31.

The game was highlighted by 28 fourth-quarter points from Michigan. 

The Wolverines will be even better in 2012, though, as Heisman Trophy candidate Denard Robinson returns for his senior season.

Although this game is in South Bend, it's hard to like the Irish's chances of beating a Top-10 team so early. 

Michigan 34, Notre Dame 24

Record: 2-2

October 6: Vs. Miami

The Fighting Irish and Hurricanes have not met since the 2010 Sun Bowl, when Notre Dame topped Miami by 16 points in El Paso, Texas.

In 2012, after a much-needed bye week, the Fighting Irish will be pitted against the ACC powerhouse at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Miami has been down over the years and has been the subject of scandal in recent seasons, which has hurt the product on the field. 

Notre Dame gets back on track with a win over the 'Canes at a neutral site.

Notre Dame 31, Miami 17

Record: 3-2

October 13: Vs. Stanford

Notre Dame's second four-game winning streak of 2011 was snapped in its regular season finale loss to Stanford on the road last season. 

The Cardinal edged the Irish 28-14 and will likely be the favorites coming into 2012's matchup. Stanford will enter the season ranked No. 18 in the Top 25 poll, but will be without Heisman Trophy finalist Andrew Luck.

That being said, the Irish will cruise to their fourth win of the season at home, avenging their 2011 defeat to their Pac-12 rival.

Notre Dame 20, Stanford 14

Record: 4-2

October 20: Vs. Brigham Young

The Irish will host Brigham Young University for the first time since 2005 this season, hoping to pick up where they left off seven years ago.

Notre Dame throttled BYU in 2005, winning 49-23 in South Bend to assert the Irish's dominance at home.

The Cougars don't promise to be a Top-25 team in 2012, and with that being the case, the Irish should make short work of them at Notre Dame Stadium.

Notre Dame 41, Brigham Young 24

Record: 5-2

October 27: At Oklahoma

Notre Dame won't play its second road game of the season until almost Halloween in 2012.

Unfortunately, though, the Irish's second road test looks to be an unwinnable matchup against the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, who rank No. 4 in the nation coming into the season.

The Sooners boast a proven, NFL-ready passer in Landry Jones and will be a national championship contender from start to finish in 2012.

Notre Dame will play hard on the road, but it will come up short in this midseason matchup.

Oklahoma 37, Notre Dame 28

Record: 5-3

November 3: Vs. Pittsburgh

Notre Dame will open the month of November at home, where it will host Pittsburgh.

The two teams went back and forth in 2011, with Notre Dame winning by three, 15-12, after a fourth-quarter touchdown and successful two-point conversion.

The Panthers will be looking to avenge that gut-wrenching loss in South Bend this fall, but in the end, it will be the Irish bouncing back from a loss at Oklahoma to win their sixth game of the season, making them bowl eligible.

Notre Dame 21, Pittsburgh 16

Record: 6-3

November 10: At Boston College

The last win of the Irish's 2011 season came at home against Boston College. 

In 2012, Notre Dame will take to the road to battle the Eagles, who are surely bitter after winding up on the wrong end of a 16-14 battle in South Bend last season.

Boston College struggled mightily to score in 2011, though, and will more than likely experience those same troubles this season.

Notre Dame hits the road and gets its first away win of the year in Chestnut Hill.

Notre Dame 27, Boston College 10

Record: 7-3

November 17: Vs. Wake Forest

Notre Dame topped Wake Forest on the road by a touchdown a season ago, so this year's matchup rematch with the ACC foe shouldn't be all that tough.

The crowd at Notre Dame Stadium will be loud and excited to welcome the Irish home from their trip to New England, and that should give Brian Kelly's squad the boost it needs to win its fifth home game of 2012.

The Demon Deacons come to play, but fall short in the end, as the Irish turn out their second three-game winning streak of the season.

Notre Dame 34, Wake Forest 21

Record: 8-3

November 24: At Southern California

Southern California handled Notre Dame in South Bend last season, winning by two touchdowns to snap the Irish's first four-game winning streak of the year.

The No. 3-ranked Trojans are heavy favorites to get to the 2013 BCS National Championship Game, and they have a Heisman Trophy candidate under center in Matt Barkley.

If the Irish found it tough against their rival at home in 2011; imagine how tough things will be when they hit the road to battle USC on the West Coast. 

Brian Kelly and Notre Dame will lose their regular season finale, but still be bowl eligible and head into a postseason matchup with a shot at winning nine games in 2012. 

Southern California 45, Notre Dame 24

Record: 8-4

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter All Season Long For More College Football Reaction and Analysis.