Notre Dame Football: Irish Travel to Wake Forest Looking to Become Bowl Eligible

Notre Dame (5-3) at Wake Forest (5-3)

Time: 8 p.m.

TV: ESPN

Notre Dame Offense vs. Wake Forest Defense

I feel like a broken record each week as I discuss the explosiveness of the Notre Dame offense when they don't turn the ball over.  As they come off of a 56-point performance last week versus Navy, this week will be no different.

Wake Forest was scorched last week for 49 points versus North Carolina, and is giving up an average of 28 points per game.  Wake Forest is ranked 56th in the nation in total defense and is the highest ranked of the three ACC defenses Notre Dame will face.

Notre Dame should have little difficulty moving the ball against a below-average defense that starts just three seniors.

EDGE: NOTRE DAME

Wake Forest Offense vs. Notre Dame Defense

Tanner Price and Chris Givens give the Demon Deacons a lethal passing combination.

Tanner Price has already thrown for nearly 2,000 yards and 14 touchdowns.  Chris Givens is averaging close to 18 yards per catch to go along with eight touchdowns.  Wake Forest's offense is ranked 72nd in the nation, however, and they are just 106th in rushing offense.

Sounds a little bit like the things we heard before the USC game, right?

This game will largely come down to whether the Irish can force Wake Forest to become one dimensional by shutting off the run.

I think they will.  Wake Forest makes a few plays, but the Irish defense make more.

EDGE: NOTRE DAME

Special Teams

Both teams have struggled in the punt-return game.  George Atkinson III is rapidly becoming a weapon for the Irish in the kick-return game.

Wake Forest appears to have an advantage in the kicking game—particularly in place kicking and kickoffs.  Wake Forest kicker Jimmy Newman is 14-of-15 on field goals and has more touchbacks than Kyle Brindza, although Brindza has a slightly longer average kickoff.  The punters both have similar averages.

In summation, the Irish have the better return game while it appears that Wake Forest is slightly better in the kicking game.

EDGE: EVEN

Intangibles

Wake Forest has put together a surprising season thus far, and has an excellent shot at playing in a bowl this season.  They will hope to accomplish this task by winning a big game at home in prime time versus Notre Dame.

Many people felt that this could be a trap game for the Irish earlier in the season.  I don't see this happening.  If the Irish have learned one thing thus far, it should be that they can get beaten by anyone on this schedule.

Still, a road game is a road game.

EDGE: WAKE FOREST

Final Analysis

Wake Forest is quietly having a nice season, and should make their first bowl appearance since 2008.  They are also a team that knocked off Florida State earlier in the season. so they are a dangerous opponent at home.

That being said, their last three outings featured blowout losses to Virginia Tech and North Carolina and a narrow escape versus Duke.

This is the first of three ACC opponents that the Irish should defeat.  Road game or not, the Irish simply have too much for Wake.

NOTRE DAME 31, WAKE FOREST 17