Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/98978
Game Preview: Alabama receptions and 624 receiving yards. He will create some major matchup problems for Alabama, which has not faced a versatile tight end like Eifert this season. Sophomore wide receiver DaVaris Daniels returns from a broken collarbone and will provide another boost for the passing game. Daniels will likely see a lot of Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner, who made 51 tackles and broke up 18 passes this season. Milliner is projected to be the top defensive back in April���s NFL Draft. Nick Saban���s forte during his long coaching career has been on the back end of a defense. His group is giving up an average of 166.2 passing yards a game this season, the sixth best total in the nation. Advantage: Alabama Special Teams Irish kicker Kyle Brindza proved he has the clutch gene by hitting several game-winning field goals this season on his way to setting a school record with 23 successful kicks. Alabama���s Jeremy Shelley has not been as busy, but he���s a perfect 11 of 11 from inside 40 yards. Alabama outperformed Notre Dame in the return 2012 Notre Dame Schedule Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Sept. 1 vs. Navy* (CBS) W, 50-10 Sept. 8 Purdue (NBC) W, 20-17 Sept. 15 at Michigan State (ABC) W, 20-3 Sept. 22 Michigan (NBC) W, 13-6 Oct. 6 vs. Miami^ (NBC) W, 41-3 Oct. 13 Stanford (NBC) W, 20-13 (OT) Oct. 20 Brigham Young (NBC) W, 17-14 Oct. 27 at Oklahoma (ABC) W, 30-13 Nov. 3 Pittsburgh (NBC) W, 29-26 (3OT) Nov. 10 at Boston College (ABC) W, 21-6 Nov. 17 Wake Forest (NBC) W, 38-0 Nov. 24 at USC (ABC) W, 22-13 Jan. 7 vs. Alabama$ (ESPN) 8:30 p.m. * at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland; ^ at Soldier Field in Chicago; $ BCS Championship Game at Sun Life Stadium in Miami game this season, finishing 14th nationally in kick returns (24.8 yards per runback) and 39th in punt returns (10.2 yards per return). Notre Dame���s abysmal return game has not hurt them yet this season, though. The Tide struggled on special teams in the SEC championship game, giving up a blocked field goal for a touchdown and surrendering a fake punt that led to another seven points. Advantage: Notre Dame Coaching There���s a reason why Nick Saban wasn���t in the discussion for coach of the year trophies this December. He���s been here before. Irish head coach Brian Kelly won the Home Depot version of that award for the second time in four years. He���s done a remarkable job of turning a struggling Notre Dame program on its head in three seasons. If Alabama wins, though, Saban will be one of three coaches in the history of college football to claim three titles in a four-year span. Kelly might be one of the best current coaches in the game right now, but Saban might be one of the best ever. Advantage: Alabama Intangibles The defending champions, Alabama, are obviously comfortable under the spotlight and hold the role of intimidator in this game. The Irish enter Miami as more than a touchdown underdog, but if anything that extra motivation helped in wins at Michigan State and Oklahoma early in the season. Both teams thrive on their ability to tune out distractions and hype. This game won���t be decided by any factors away from the football field. Advantage: Even Predictions Lou Somogyi: Notre Dame 13, Alabama 9 Jason Sapp: Notre Dame 21, Alabama 20 Wes Morgan: Alabama 24, Notre Dame 17 Dan Murphy: Alabama 20, Notre Dame 16