Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/616353
GAME PREVIEW: OHIO STATE knee and shoulder injuries, are both expected to help against the Buckeyes. Ohio State's front seven is led by end Joey Bosa, possibly the top defensive lineman in next spring's NFL Draft, and even without suspended senior de‑ fensive tackle Adolphus Washington, Kelly recognizes the next level talent on the Buckeyes roster. "They're a lot like Alabama, a lot like some of the greater defenses," Kelly said. "They're going to roll out another really good football player, so we weren't running around the office high‑fiving. "We didn't think they were going to put a JV player in." URBAN LEGEND Besides winning three consensus na‑ tional titles by age 51 and posting the third highest winning percentage in ma‑ jor college football history, fourth‑year Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has the best bowl winning percentage — 9‑2 when including the championship game in last's year College Football Playoff — ever among head coaches who have been to at least 10 bowl games. He also has three former Brian Kelly assistants on his staff: offensive line coach/coordinator Ed Warinner (2010‑11), tight ends coach Tim Hinton (2010‑11) and running backs coach Tony Alford (2010‑14). "We'll probably have to consider it and look at what we communicate on the line of scrimmage and be cognizant of it," Irish head coach Brian Kelly said of the former assistants knowing some of the Notre Dame system. "… I don't think I'm too concerned about it, but it's something that we'll definitely con‑ sider." ✦ Predictions Bryan Driskell: Notre Dame 38, Ohio State 27 Ohio State has not faced the speed it will see from Notre Dame, which will be the ultimate factor in this matchup. It will be close early, but the hungry Irish finally get their top-10 win in a bowl. Andrew Ivins: Notre Dame 41, Ohio State 35 It's hard to pick against Urban Meyer in a bowl game, but the Irish are the team with something to prove out in the desert. Andrew Owens: Ohio State 38, Notre Dame 34 The big question here is which Buckeyes squad shows up — the one that sleepwalked through most of the season, or the one that drubbed Michigan. I expect Urban Meyer to have Ohio State ready. Lou Somogyi: Notre Dame 31, Ohio State 27 One has to be a supreme idiot to pick against Urban Meyer in any big-game situation. Guilty as charged, your honor. Irish have to win one of these majors some time … don't they? Jordan Wells: Ohio State 35, Notre Dame 31 The Irish boast the offensive firepower to match the Buckeyes on that side of the ball, but Ohio State's defense gets one more stop than Notre Dame can muster.