Notre Dame Football: Offense Will Let Fighting Irish Down vs. Oklahoma

Notre Dame may limit No. 8 Oklahoma's scoring on Saturday, but its offense will ultimately fail to lift the team to victory.

The No. 5 Fighting Irish have averaged 25.9 points this season, but most of that came against over-matched opponents in Navy and Miami (FL).

Against stronger defenses in Michigan State, Michigan, Stanford and BYU, the Fighting Irish averaged 17.5 points, and the Stanford game went into overtime.

Oklahoma, averaging 44.7 points per game this season (fifth in the FBS), has a better offense than any of the teams Notre Dame has faced, as well as a formidable defense. That will be the difference this time around.

The best defensive team Oklahoma has faced has been Kansas State. That resulted in the Sooners' lone loss of the season. They fell, 24-19.

On the other hand, Kansas State has a much better offense than Notre Dame's and the fact that it scored just 24 points is telling. Oklahoma also held Texas Tech and Texas to 20 points and 21 points respectively.

What it amounts to is a perfect storm for Notre Dame. Even if the Fighting Irish limit the Oklahoma offense, it still likely won't be enough. The offense hasn't shown it can score more than 20 points against a solid defense and Oklahoma will likely score more than 20 points in this contest even with the Irish's defense as good as it is.

Add the fact that the Sooners are playing at home this week and it doesn't add up to a pleasant experience for the Fighting Irish.

Notre Dame's dreams of going undefeated this season will be crushed on Saturday in Norman.