Notre Dame vs Northwestern Predictions – 7:15 PM EST ESPN

It doesn’t matter what should on paper be a ND blowout. NW coach Fitzgerald has a deep seeded hatred for ND, not to mention the Chicago recruiting yearly battle.

NW is not doing bad this year sitting at 5-3. They’ve beaten Purdue, MSU, Nebraska and last week Wisconsin. They only lost to Michigan by a 20-17 score. ND better be ready for a 4 quarter battle as NW plays as hard as Navy for the entire game.

ND riding a wave has to get out early to take their confidence away, and ruin any chance for a 4th quarter comeback. It’s time for ND to look like a Playoff team and building on their current run its time to really ramp it up in both the run and pass game.

In that regard I would have Armstrong and Williams in a 2 back set – let’s use both these guys together at the same time. I would pass to set up the run then gash them on the ground.

You can expect NW to mirror the Pitt defensive scheme.

Chip Long has to get a lot more creative running the offense. ND defense can take care of itself. You want to be in the playoffs? Show it Saturday night.

Notre Dame 40 Northwestern 20.

Here is the Brian Kelly pre game interview: