Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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GAME PREVIEW: PITTSBURGH gan Thomas during an upset win over Virginia Tech. Interceptions haven't been an issue for Notre Dame this season, no matter who is under center for the Irish. Sophomore Everett Golson takes small steps forward each week, but needs to develop more trust in tight end Tyler Eifert. The 6-6 All-American has only 19 catches through seven games. He had eight grabs against Pitt last season. The passing game is still a work in progress for Notre Dame and probably won't be used too often if they can have their way running the ball. Advantage: Pittsburgh SPECIAL TEAMS Dame's armor this season. The Irish have all but given up on returning punts during the past two years. Freshman Davonte' Neal averaged 2.8 yards per attempt through seven games. He's only re- turned 12 punts so far this season due in part to a lack of blocking in front of him. Sophomore George Atkinson III, who returned The return game continues to be a chink in Notre yards per return. Pitt, on the other hand, had one of the best kick re- turners in the country in the first half of the season. Freshman Lafayette Pitts ranked 11th in the nation with 28.8 yards per return. Advantage: Pittsburgh COACHING span. He inherited a program that has been on a downward spiral for the past five years and will need at least another year to establish the foundation he wants. His 0-3 start in Big East play isn't providing any help, and life won't get any easier when his team moves to the ACC next season. Kelly has built a program with an identity in South Chryst is Pittsburgh's fourth coach in a three-year Bend, one that looks to have found a way to avoid ugly losses to lesser opponents. His run-first mental- ity should give the Irish an edge at home. two kickoffs for touchdowns last season, has also been rendered ineffective by a lack of opportunity this season. He brought only eight kicks out of the end zone in the first seven games and averaged 19.4 Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Sept. 1 vs. Navy* (CBS) Sept. 8 Purdue (NBC) Oct. 20 Brigham Young (NBC) W, 17-14 Oct. 27 at Oklahoma (ABC) Nov. 3 Pittsburgh (NBC) Nov. 10 at Boston College Nov. 17 Wake Forest (NBC) Nov. 24 at USC Oct. 13 Stanford (NBC) W, 20-13 (OT) W, 30-13 W, 41-3 3:30 p.m. TBD 3:30 p.m. TBD * at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland; ^ at Soldier Field in Chicago vs. Miami^ (NBC) 2012 NOTRE DAME SCHEDULE W, 50-10 Sept. 15 at Michigan State (ABC) W, 20-3 Sept. 22 Michigan (NBC) Oct. 6 W, 20-17 W, 13-6 Advantage: Notre Dame INTANGIBLES the next few weeks are a chance for Notre Dame to eliminate any doubts about its ability to dominate some weaker opponents. The Irish are coming off of a tough battle with Oklahoma, while Pitt scheduled Buffalo and Temple in the weeks leading up to their trip to South Bend. Playing the spoiler role could be a big bonus for Chryst in his first year, but Notre Dame's veterans know how much is on the line each week in No- vember and should be fired up to rack up a big win like the rest of the top 10 teams in the country have been doing on a weekly basis. Kelly said he's not concerned with style points, but Advantage: Notre Dame Lou Somogyi: Notre Dame 31, Pittsburgh 10 Jason Sapp: Notre Dame 31, Pittsburgh 13 Wes Morgan: Notre Dame 35, Pittsburgh 7 Dan Murphy: Notre Dame 38, Pittsburgh 3 PREDICTIONS