Another night game in a big venue–home of the Chicago Bears. Notre Dame coming off a bye week and when that happens they usually come out not just flat but real flat. I think they do the same this Saturday Night. On the other hand Miami coming off 2 big wins over Georgia Tech and North Carolina State will be all jazzed by the big venue and the opportunity to knock off Notre Dame–advantage Miami.

Unless Kelly has been purposely holding the reigns on this offense Notre Dame is in big trouble. He is committed to Golson no matter what and I do think their is muttering by the players that want to win this year, not deal with training wheels on a rookie QB. I believe they think Rees gives them the best chance to win this year.

Let’s take a closer look at Miami. Their Head Coach Al Golden is a rising superstar. He’s been at Miami 3 years, I think, same as Kelly yet he is able to run a fast tempo no huddle offense and Kelly can’t. Yet this is the type of offense that got Kelly the ND job. With the no huddle, fast pace Golden will be able to negate the ND defensive substitutions.

Miami’s OC is Jedd Fisch (also QB coach) who spent 9 yrs. in the Pro’s and his offense is putting up big numbers and points. He knows that he can’t run directly against ND’s front seven so he will try to go over the top with lots of roll-out pass plays and he has the QB to succeed. Outside of the Kansas State game (currently ranked #7) these guys can score a lot.

Miami’s DC is Mark D’Onofrio linebacker from Penn State and a 2nd. round draft pick for the Packers. Coaching stints with Golden at Virginia and Temple. Both Golden & D’onofrio at Penn State when PSU had very good defenses–so they know how to set a defense. I look for them to stack the box just like Purdue and bring constant pressure only with quicker players.

Sure this team has been gashed but they now believe, with their offense putting up big numbers they can simply outscore opponents. They laid 42 points on Georgia Tech (436 passing) and 44 points on North Carolina State 440 passing and 224 running. Take a look at this incredible play against NCS with 19 seconds left.

So unless the Notre Dame offense can control the clock and more importantly score a lot of points I don’t think the ND defense can save them. This Miami team is the fastest group that the Irish will play this year together with the best passer and they are super fast–so a few lapses by the ND defense could prove fatal.

Forget Navy, so I can’t pick a team that could not score at least 21 points in their last 3 games. I look for Miami to wear down the ND defense and run away with it in the 4th. quarter. Miami upsets the Irish.

Miami 34 Notre Dame 17