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5 Bold Predictions For Notre Dame vs. LSU In Music City Bowl

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5 Bold Predictions For Notre Dame vs. LSU In Music City Bowl

Notre Dame Football
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and LSU Tigers will square off for the 11th time in their storied histories on Dec. 30, with each school having won five games against the other. Who will break the deadlock in Nashville? Here are five bold predictions for the Music City Bowl.

5. Malik Zaire Will Be Notre Dame’s Leading Rusher

Malik Zaire Notre Dame
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

5. Malik Zaire Will Be Notre Dame’s Leading Rusher

Malik Zaire Notre Dame
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Zaire, who is battling starter Everett Golson for the quarterback job, is most comfortable running the zone read. Zaire has carried the ball 11 times for 109 yards this season, good for an 8.3 yards per carry average. The Irish will need to utilize Zaire’s legs in order to combat a physical and aggressive LSU defense that only allows 305.8 total yards per game.

4. Leonard Fournette Will Eclipse The 1,000-Yard Mark

Leonard Fournette LSU
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

4. Leonard Fournette Will Eclipse The 1,000-Yard Mark

Leonard Fournette LSU
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Fournette, who was a five-star recruit many compared to Adrian Peterson, had a solid freshman campaign. He rushed for 891 yards on 176 carries (5.1 average) and scored eight touchdowns. The Irish defensive front has been decimated by injuries, and Fournette, who is a bruiser at 230 pounds, should have no problem amassing at least 109 yards to surpassing the 1,000-yard mark.

3. Nyles Morgan Will Be Notre Dame’s Leading Tackler

Nyles Morgan Notre Dame
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

3. Nyles Morgan Will Be Notre Dame’s Leading Tackler

Nyles Morgan Notre Dame
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Morgan will anchor the Notre Dame defense in the middle and will be relied upon to slow down the vaunted LSU rushing attack. Morgan had an up-and-down freshman season, but he finished on a strong note, registering a career-high 11 tackles against USC despite only playing the second half. The Irish will need another career effort if they hope to contain the Tigers’ ground game which averages just under 220 yards per game.

2. Each Team Will Record 2 Interceptions

LSU Tigers Secondary
Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

2. Each Team Will Record 2 Interceptions

LSU Tigers Secondary
Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

The strength of the LSU defense lies in their secondary, which typically churns out NFL talent every year. With Golson’s penchant for turning the football over, the Tigers should come away with at least two interceptions. Meanwhile, Notre Dame’s defense is tied for 14th in the country with 16 passes intercepted on the season, including an impressive streak of 13 straight games with an interception that was snapped against USC.

1. Four Quarterbacks Will Play In This Game

Anthony Jennings LSU
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

1. Four Quarterbacks Will Play In This Game

Anthony Jennings LSU
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Brian Kelly has already said that Golson and Zaire will see time against the Tigers. Golson has the best numbers of any quarterback in this one, amassing 3,632 total yards and 37 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris are battling for the LSU starting job. The Tigers have been dreadful passing the football, ranking 116th in the nation at just under 164 yards per game, with Jennings completing only 48.8 percent of his throws.

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