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9-of-24 passing performance for 104 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions against Oklahoma. Rather than rely on the vaunted-but-inconsistent pass rush to get after Rees, the Sun Devils might try to replicate Michigan State's game plan and eliminate the intermediate passing game and force the senior to throw deep. Rees had been effective in avoiding turnovers through four games before coughing up the ball three times a week ago. Advantage: Even Special Teams Notre Dame has struggled in the special teams department, but Arizona State has been nothing short of a train wreck. Graham uses many of his starters on the unit and often emphasizes the importance of special teams. Stanford dominated the first half against Arizona State and took a 29-0 lead to the locker rooms, due in large part to field position. The Cardinal started each possession on average at its own 44, compared to its own 19 for the Sun Devils. Arizona State's punt unit has struggled, having already suffered a blocked punt, a punt into a teammate and a long snap over the punter's head. Advantage: Notre Dame photo courtesy arizona state Coaching Graham faces the Irish for the third time in four years at three different programs. He has settled in at Arizona State and just missed out on a berth in the Pac-12 championship game a year ago. A signature win over Kelly and the Irish would go a long way to legitimize the program nationally. As head coach of Tulsa, Graham defeated Notre Dame 28-27 in South Bend in 2010 and lost 15-12 at home to the Irish in his only season as Pittsburgh's coach. For Kelly's squad, BCS hopes may hinge on the outcome of this Shamrock Series matchup. Advantage: Even For the most part, the strategy against the Irish offense led by senior quarterback Tommy Rees has been to give him room in the intermediate passing game. When Michigan State took that away and forced Rees to throw deep, he finished with his least productive performance of the season by connecting on just 14 of 34 throws for 142 yards with a touchdown. He followed it up with a Intangibles Arizona State appears to be turning the corner as a program but, if the first month is any indication, the Sun Devils still have some weak spots. Notre Dame has hardly been free of errors after reaching the BCS National Championship Game a year ago and limped out of Senior safety Alden Darby was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the week after making seven tackles, forcing a fumble, recovering a fumble and intercepting two passes, one of which he returned 46 yards for a touchdown, in Arizona State's 62-41 win over USC last Saturday. ✦ Page 4 September with two losses. Both teams are concluding the toughest stretch of their respective schedules with this neutral site game. The team that makes the fewest mental miscues just might escape with a win. Advantage: Notre Dame Predictions Tom Loy: Notre Dame 34, Arizona State 24 The Sun Devils don't have enough playmakers to hang with the Fighting Irish in AT&T Stadium. Against Stanford, the ASU defense looked lost at times, special teams were extremely poor and the offense couldn't get anything going until the game was out of reach. Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees should have plenty of time in the pocket due to, surprisingly, the lack of a strong Sun Devils pass rush compared to last year. Dan Murphy: Notre Dame 31, Arizona State 27 If the Irish run game is ever going to get its legs un‑ derneath it, it'll have to happen in Texas. The Sun Devils are allowing an average of 192.2 yards per game on the ground, which ranks 93rd nationally. If Notre Dame can get a few early stops against the high-tempo Arizona State offense, that defense will wear down and Brian Kelly's team can pound its way to a close victory. Andrew Owens: Notre Dame 38, Arizona State 34 The Shamrock Series concludes a difficult three-game stretch for Notre Dame and a brutal four-game stretch for Arizona State. The Sun Devils' defense has plenty of holes for the Irish to exploit, and Notre Dame's rushing attack must resemble its 220-yard performance against Oklahoma. Defensively, Notre Dame needs to follow Stanford's blueprint and shut down Arizona State's ground game, led by explosive senior Marion Grice. Expect to see some fireworks in this one, with the out‑ come in question until the end. Lou Somogyi: Arizona State 31, Notre Dame 27 It's tempting to put both teams scoring in the 30s because the defenses had their share of issues in the early going. Neither team has run particularly well, so whoever can produce more effectively and consistently there should have an upper hand. A defensive or spe‑ cial teams score would loom large. Notre Dame is over‑ due for a quick, early lead and a "where did that come from?" performance while forcing several turnovers. Do not be surprised in the least with an ND victory go‑ ing away. Until then, a slight edge to ASU.