The undefeated #4 team in the country, Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-0, 4-0 ACC) look to maintain their Top 5 status Saturday against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2-4, 2-3 ACC).
This will be a warmup contest before the Irish face #1 Clemson next weekend. Kickoff for this conference tilt is set for 3:30 p.m. EST at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. The Irish are a 20.5-point favorite.
What to Know – Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame opened the season with four-straight home contests before embarking on their current two-game road streak. Saturday marks the second consecutive week that the Irish have been away from South Bend, after thumping Pittsburgh 45-3 a game ago.
Senior quarterback Ian Book has completed 74-for-124 passes for 1,026 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception this season. Book has also carried the ball 42 times for 166 yards and five scores.
Kyren Williams is the lead back for the Irish, rushing the ball 90 times for 524 yards and five touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Javon McKinley has hauled in nine receptions for 171 yards, while Williams is second in receiving with ten catches for 156 yards.
Notre Dame is 28-6-1 all-time against the Yellow Jackets, with the last meeting between these two schools happening in 2015. The Irish won the game, 30-22, at home.
What to Know – Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Georgia Tech and second-year head coach Geoff Collins have a tough matchup this weekend if they want to halt a two-game losing skid. The Yellow Jackets were embarrassed at home by Clemson two weeks ago, 73-7, and fell at Boston College, 48-27, last time out.
True freshman quarterback Jeff Sims continues to lead GT’s offense, completing 83/150 passes for 1,196 yards, eight touchdowns, and ten interceptions. The first-year signal-caller has also rushed 69 times for 275 yards and four touchdowns.
Fellow freshman Jahmyr Gibbs (69 carries, 308 yards, two touchdowns) has seen his presence in the offensive game plan increase over the last month. Senior wide receiver Jalen Camp is the primary target for Sims in the passing game, hauling in 17 passes for 226 yards, and two touchdowns.
The Yellow Jackets average almost 200 rushing yards per game so expect them to continue to utilize the freshman backfield and gain experience.
The Pick is In
The Fighting Irish are undefeated, and going on the road against a team that has dropped their last two. One of Georgia Tech’s losses over that span was a 67-point defeat to Clemson so the Jackets do have the propensity to be blown out. Both of these squads are talented, and the Irish are prepared physically to handle the ACC defensive line.
Georgia Tech has the ability to force turnovers on the other side, but I do not foresee that happening in this one as Notre Dame has done a great job of protecting the football for the most part. The pick is in, and we are siding with the Irish and the points.
