Frankie V’s Prediction: Can Notre Dame Football Avoid a 1993 Repeat Against Boston College?

One week after beating No. 1 Miami 31-24, Notre Dame hosts 4-5 Boston College on Saturday afternoon in South Bend. Most books have the Irish as 29.5-point favorites. After the biggest win of the season, a matchup like this is where a heavy favorite can lose focus. Here is what worries me heading into Saturday, what doesn’t, and the Notre Dame players I’ll be watching.

What Worries Me

A letdown after Miami. Notre Dame is coming off a win over the top-ranked team in the country and is favored by four touchdowns this week. Those are the conditions for overlooking an opponent like Boston College. Earlier this week I wrote about what Notre Dame can learn from 1993. That November, Notre Dame beat No. 1 Florida State 31-24 at home, the same margin as last week’s win over Miami. The next Saturday, Boston College won 41-39 in South Bend on a last-second field goal and derailed the season. The opponent and the timing are the same this year, and that history concerns me.

The mounting injuries on defense. Notre Dame has to come out of this game healthy. DJ McKinney, Drayk Bowen, and Brauntae Johnson are out, and Francis Brewu and Jason Onye are questionable, so the Irish could be without five defensive starters. Against Miami, Leonard Moore and Jayden Sanders also went down at different points. Both returned to that game and neither appears on this week’s injury report, but the situation is fragile. Notre Dame cannot afford to lose another defensive starter. The best outcome is a big early lead that lets the staff rest as many of those players as possible.

The lack of a rotation at wide receiver. Jerome Bettis Jr. caught a 31-yard touchdown against Navy, then played very little against Miami. Mylan Graham made three key catches for 32 yards last week, yet he still isn’t part of a regular rotation. Notre Dame needs to get more of its receivers on the field.

What Doesn’t Worry Me

Notre Dame running the ball. I expect a much better day on the ground than the Irish had against Miami, when Nolan James Jr. managed 52 yards on 16 carries. Both James and Jonaz Walton should have big games. I expect Walton to break a long touchdown run, as Jeremiyah Love did with his 94-yard score against Boston College last season. James has scored a touchdown in every game this year, and I expect that streak to continue Saturday.

Boston College scoring a lot of points. Mason McKenzie gives the Eagles a mobile quarterback who can create with his legs. His 676 rushing yards lead his team and every other quarterback in the ACC. I don’t expect that to be the difference. Notre Dame’s pass rush reached the quarterback against Miami, and I expect it to keep McKenzie uncomfortable and hold Boston College’s scoring down. The Irish allow 87.1 rushing yards per game, and Boston College averages 21.9 points.

The passing game. The receiver rotation concerns me, but the passing game as a whole does not. CJ Carr threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns against Miami and is now a leading Heisman candidate. I’d like to see the staff let him throw often on Saturday and add yards and touchdowns to his Heisman case.

Players to Watch

Mylan Graham. Graham’s role grew last week, and each of his three catches against Miami came on an important down. I want to see that usage continue, because Notre Dame needs him to become a bigger part of the offense.

Jaden Greathouse. Greathouse has been quiet for several weeks and hasn’t been a major factor since the BYU game. If Carr throws often on Saturday, I’d like to see Greathouse more involved.

Jayden Sanders. Sanders starts again in place of DJ McKinney. Miami targeted him often last week, and I expect Boston College to do the same.

Francis Brewu and Jason Onye. Both defensive tackles are officially questionable, and I would be surprised if either plays. If they do suit up, it would be a strong sign that neither injury is serious and that both will be available for the stretch run.

Frankie V’s Prediction

Boston College will force Notre Dame to drive the length of the field. The Eagles’ pass defense allows 187.3 yards per game, second-fewest in the ACC, which could limit how many big plays the Irish hit. The final score may not be as lopsided as some fans are hoping.

Notre Dame 42, Boston College 10