Notre Dame’s trip to Wisconsin is drawing plenty of attention, even if the early read on the matchup points in one direction.
The game itself has some built-in appeal, with No. 4 Notre Dame facing an unranked Wisconsin team in what should be one of the more notable college football matchups of the holiday weekend. And while the ranking gap makes the contest look lopsided on paper, it still has the feel of a game that could deliver solid football.
At least one analyst believes the Irish will control it.
David Kenyon of Bleacher Report laid out his predictions for the weekend’s biggest college football games, and he has Notre Dame taking care of business against Wisconsin. His projected final: Notre Dame 30, Wisconsin 17.
Kenyon sees the talent edge clearly favoring Notre Dame. “On paper, this shouldn't be a close game.
Notre Dame is easily the more talented team,” Kenyon states in the piece. “Wisconsin, however, is rightfully excited about the arrival of dual-threat QB Colton Joseph, who surpassed 2,500 passing and 1,000 rushing yards at Old Dominion last season.”
He also pointed to the possibility of a tougher-than-expected night if Wisconsin’s defense shows up and the Lambeau Field crowd gets involved. “If the Badgers are stingy on defense as usual-aided by a raucous Lambeau Field crowd-ND could be legitimately tested.”
That leaves room for a competitive game, at least in theory. But a 30-17 prediction still suggests Notre Dame has enough to separate, and enough to keep this one from staying close for long.
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Notre Dame jumped in with an offer on January 30, and the Irish offensive staff has shown strong interest since then. For a program that likes to identify versatile athletes with room to develop, Bowen fits the kind of profile that can stay on the radar deep into the cycle. His two-way ability gives schools plenty to sort through, and it should make his next steps worth following closely for Notre Dame fans. [Read more 🡒]