Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/587814
GAME PREVIEW: TEMPLE entering the fourth quarter before Kizer nearly orchestrated another comeback win before falling short, 24‑22. Granted, most of the road setbacks have come against ranked teams such as Clemson, Stanford, Florida State, Arizona State and USC, but a common thread in most of them was poor starts out of the gate. Beyond Clemson, it in‑ cluded a 21‑0 first‑quarter meltdown at USC last year and a 34‑3 deficit at ASU. Even in 30‑14 and 31‑15 road wins last year against vastly outmatched Purdue and Syracuse, respectively, the Irish trailed the Boilermakers 14‑10 with less than 30 seconds left in the first half, and the first 19 minutes against the Orange were scoreless. If Notre Dame is to keep alive its ma‑ jor bowl aspirations, it must assert itself better on the road this Halloween and then through November, when it fal‑ tered badly last season. BYE & BYE This is the one game Notre Dame's coaches had a little extra time to pre‑ pare for in the regular season because of the Oct. 24 bye weekend. It also al‑ lowed the Fighting Irish players to get a little time for decompression. They will be able to go home to spend some time with their families from Oct. 21‑25. Temple also had a mini‑bye — it too didn't play Oct. 24 because of play‑ ing at East Carolina Oct. 22. Upcoming Irish foes Pitt, Wake Forest and Boston College also will have not play on the Saturday before they face Notre Dame. Which team can use the time off bet‑ ter and more productively should help determine the outcome. ✦ Predictions Bryan Driskell: Notre Dame 30, Temple 13 The Owls have one of the best defenses Notre Dame will face all season. The Irish defense needs to give the offense enough time to find some traction and help pull out the victory. Andrew Ivins: Notre Dame 30, Temple 15: This year's Owls aren't your typical Owls, which could spell some trouble for the Irish. Notre Dame will need to find its ground game early to establish control. Andrew Owens: Notre Dame 31, Temple 20 The bye week comes at an ideal time for the Irish after the three‑game stretch against Clemson, Navy and USC. Temple has impressed, but no team on its schedule can match the speed, athleticism and talent Notre Dame possesses. Lou Somogyi: Notre Dame 27, Temple 13 Don't sleep on these Owls, who are capable of throwing a Virginia‑like scare into the Irish. Notre Dame has to show it's not just "the other defense" in this game. Jordan Wells: Notre Dame 31, Temple 21 Temple's defense is rock solid, but in the end their offense won't be able to hold serve to keep with a more balanced and explosive Notre Dame attack.