| ISD Staff Game Predictions | ||||
|
 Senior day usually ends with the Irish fans saluting their favorite senior players for a job well done over their time as a Notre Dame football player. Last year the Irish lost a very disappointing game against Syracuse on senior day ruining the long Irish tradition. Can this year’s senior class end their last game in Notre Dame Stadium on a high note? Mike Frank As much as I’d like to think the Irish will cruise to a victory on Saturday over UConn, I just don’t see that happening. I think the Irish are in for another close one. My worry is if the Notre Dame players have enough left in the emotional tank to finish the game on Saturday after a very turbulent season. This will likely be Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate’s last game, so I expect them to play well, and a number of Irish offensive linemen will also be playing their last game in Notre Dame Stadium. If the offense gets back on track on Saturday they can win. If they don’t, it’s going to be another disappointing loss. UConn: 31 Notre Dame: 28 Steve Wiltfong Both teams appear to come in struggling, however the Huskies have lost three tough games in a row to opponents favored over them. Connecticut dropped consecutive 28-24 games to West Virginia at home and Rutgers on the road. Two weeks ago, the Huskies lost a shootout to undefeated Cincinnati, 47-45. Connecticut will play very hard on Saturday. The Huskies will take an early 7-0 lead, and have a 17-14 advantage in the third quarter. Then the wheels will fall off. Former Irish quarterback Zach Frazer will turn the ball over, and Jimmy Clausen and the Notre Dame offense capitalize for the lead. In the fourth quarter, the Irish and Armando Allen score a touchdown to go up by the decisive margin. Golden Tate scores every week, so there's no reason to predict he won't again. Clausen connects for two scores, with the other coming to Robby Parris. Allen rushes for over 100 yards, and Jamoris Slaughter has his first career interception. Notre Dame sacks Frazer four times, led by Kapron Lewis-Moore, with two. Notre Dame: 28 Connecticut: 17 Christian McCollum The Irish are able to shake off back-to-back disappointing losses to send their seniors out the right way. If it is to be Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate's final game at Notre Dame Stadium, it is another solid one with Clausen throwing for over 300 yards and three scores while Tate has over 100 receiving yards and a touchdown. Michael Floyd also eclipses the 100-yard mark and has a touchdown grab of his own. The ground game is solid with Armando Allen leading the group. Zach Frazer throws a touchdown pass in Notre Dame Stadium, but he is also picked off three times, including the clincher in the fourth quarter. Notre Dame: 35 UConn: 24 Brian Smith I say show me! ND's offense has been a roller coaster of late, and that will not work against an underrated Connecticut team. Notre Dame needs coach Weis to run the ball early, middle and late. That's not his forte. Uconn spoils senior day. UConn: 27 ND: 23 Lorenzo Reyes Does Notre Dame have enough in the tank to pull out a win and see its seniors out on a positive note? Just barely. This Irish team will come out looking to score early and will take a lead behind Jimmy Clausen's two first half touchdown passes. One will go to Michael Floyd, while the other will come Golden Tate's way. Armando Allen will continue to be efficient in the running game and will average over five yards per carry again, but the junior will not receive enough touches to be effective. Notre Dame's defense will continue to struggle and allow Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon to bring the Huskies back in the game. Zach Frazer will get some revenge and throw a touchdown to tie the game at 28 apiece in the fourth quarter. Clausen leads yet another game-winning drive late in the game but Nick Tausch will return to kick the game- winning field goal as time expires to send the seniors out with an emotional win. Notre Dame 31 Connecticut 28
|