Clemson football vs. Notre Dame: Scouting report and score prediction
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Clemson football will hit the road for a final time in the 2022 regular season when the fourth-ranked Tigers play at Notre Dame on Saturday night in a nationally televised 7:30 game on NBC.
The Tigers (8-0, 6-0 ACC) and Fighting Irish (5-3) will battle for the fifth time in eight seasons, with Clemson holding a 3-1 advantage.
Clemson (No. 5 AFCA Coaches / AP Top 5) is bidding to improve to 35-4 in road games since 2015, which is the nation’s best road record during that span, and could notch a perfect record on the road for the 10th time in school history.
Here’s what to know about the matchup and a score prediction:
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Tigers, Irish both running wild
Both teams rely heavily on the running game, and with rain and wind forecast early Saturday, that isn’t likely to change. Notre Dame averages 186.6 yards per game with Clemson right behind at 185.4.
The Fighting Irish have a three-headed monster in the backfield as Audric Estime, Logan Diggs and Chris Tyree each average at least 4.1 yards per attempt. The 227-pound Estime leads the way with a gaudy 5.6 yard average and eight touchdowns.
“You have to stop the run or they’re going to kill you,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “Their three backs are sledgehammers.”
For Clemson, sophomore Will Shipley is seeking a third consecutive 100-yard game for the first time in his career.
Tigers’ goal: Contain Michael Mayer
One of the primary missions for Clemson’s defense will be to minimize the damage inflicted by Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer, a 6-foot-4, 265-pound junior who arguably is the best tight end in the country.
The 6-foot-4, 265-pounder is the team’s leading receiver 47 receptions for 580 yards and six touchdowns and gets the ball in a variety of ways.
“He’s going to be on the move all the time,” Swinney said. “He’s all over the place. Everybody knows he’s going to get the ball.”
Quarterbacks are question marks
Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei will be returning to the site of his best game; he passed for 439 yards at Notre Dame Stadium in a double-overtime loss in 2020 – the most passing yards ever surrendered to opponent at that venue.
But Uiagalelei is coming off perhaps the worst performance of his career and was replaced by freshman Cade Klubnik in a come-from-behind win against Syracuse two weeks ago after going 13-of-21 with two interceptions.
Notre Dame quarterback Drew Pyne has been quietly efficient – 13 touchdowns and four interceptions – without being overwhelmingly impressive.
Blocked kicks could come into play
Notre Dame and Clemson rank first and fourth, respectively, in blocked kicks this season.
The Tigers have blocked four kicks – two punts and two field goals – while the Fighting Irish have blocked five punts, including one in each of their last three games.
“Three games in a row – that might be a record,” Swinney said. “It’s hard to do that. They’ve done a great job of coming after it. That’s something that’s absolutely got our attention.”
Clemson vs. Notre Dame score prediction
Clemson 21, Notre Dame 17: Notre Dame appears to be playing its best ball of the season, winning five of its last six games after an 0-2 start. But Clemson has its sights set on a seventh College Football Playoff berth in eight years and the Fighting Irish could be the Tigers’ final major hurdle in that quest.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football vs. Notre Dame: Score prediction, scouting report
