Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/208902
Game Preview: BYU — it might need to be the X-factor. Going into the Nov. 9 game at Pitt, Notre Dame ranked 117th in kickoff coverage (26.1 yards allowed per return) and 106th in punt coverage (12.1 yards surrendered per runback) among 123 Football Bowl Subdivision teams, one of the worse combinations in the land. BYU, prior to its Nov. 9 game, ranked fourth nationally in kickoff returns with a 27.1-yard average, led by sophomore Adam Hine. However, BYU also has lost its top punt return man (JD Falslev) to an injury, had three punts blocked, and ranked only 112th in net punting (33.9 yards) and 109th in kick return defense (24.4 yards allowed per attempt), including a 95-yard touchdown by Houston. Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly believes junior George Atkinson III and senior TJ Jones have been on the threshold of breaking the big one on returns. BYU might appear vulnerable there. "We need to pick up the game as it relates to special teams," Kelly said. ✦ Predictions Tom Loy: Notre Dame 34, Brigham Young 31 BYU quarterback Taysom Hill is a terrific athlete who can beat you with his arm or his legs. He will be a thorn in the side of Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco, and stopping Hill will be no easy task. Irish quarterback Tommy Rees should have a big day as well, and this game could come down to the final possession. Look for Notre Dame to win this game late in the fourth quarter on a big throw by the Irish signal-caller. Dan Murphy: Notre Dame 27, Brigham Young 24 Brigham Young's up-tempo offense has been rolling since the midway point of the season, and Notre Dame has had trouble with mobile quarterbacks this season. But it's senior day for Tommy Rees, who ends his final stop at Notre Dame Stadium in a fashion befitting his roller-coaster career. BYU will push out to an early lead, but the Irish survive thanks to some late-game heroics from their veteran quarterback. Andrew Owens: Notre Dame 23, Brigham Young 21 Stanford gets all the attention as a difficult late-season test for the Irish, but BYU could prove to be just as challenging. Notre Dame gets its first look at versatile Cougars quarterback Taysom Hill and another matchup with fierce linebacker Kyle Van Noy. The Irish needed a fourth-quarter touchdown to top BYU last season at Notre Dame Stadium and will need to do the same this year to avoid tripping up in its penultimate game. Lou Somogyi: Notre Dame 27, Brigham Young 23 The Irish have won 10 straight games in which the final margin was seven or less points. You can keep doing that for only so long before the pendulum starts swinging the other way. However, with a bye week providing more mending opportunities for various personnel, Notre Dame should be capable of eking out another one at home. A lot could depend on the mental attitude after the game at Pitt. BYU has too many weapons to overlook.