Notre Dame at Pittsburgh is shaping up as one of college football's biggest mismatches this week. The Panthers are facing off against a team that has been touted as "America's team" - the Fighting Irish. However, it seems that the hype might be misplaced as Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi claims that Notre Dame is their toughest opponent yet.
The Irish have been on a seven-game winning streak, with an average margin of victory of 26.1 points over the past three weeks. Their last two games against Syracuse and Stanford were both blowouts, but they still seem to be playing catch-up in this longstanding rivalry. Pitt, on the other hand, has won five straight games, scoring at least 30 points in each of their last four contests.
The real challenge for Notre Dame lies not just in the physical matchup with Pitt, but also in avoiding complacency. The Irish coach Marcus Freeman acknowledged that some have referred to this game as a "trap game" - implying that Pitt might be seen as an easy target after a bye week.
While the Irish are expected to win, it's difficult to predict how much of a blowout we can expect. Narduzzi has emphasized that Notre Dame is a "complete team," but the Panthers' defense seems particularly formidable, with five sacks and three interceptions in their last game against Stanford.
The final score is looking like 34-24 in favor of Notre Dame, but it's hard to rule out Pitt from causing an upset. This one will be a great test for both teams as they look to close out the regular season on a high note.
The Irish have been on a seven-game winning streak, with an average margin of victory of 26.1 points over the past three weeks. Their last two games against Syracuse and Stanford were both blowouts, but they still seem to be playing catch-up in this longstanding rivalry. Pitt, on the other hand, has won five straight games, scoring at least 30 points in each of their last four contests.
The real challenge for Notre Dame lies not just in the physical matchup with Pitt, but also in avoiding complacency. The Irish coach Marcus Freeman acknowledged that some have referred to this game as a "trap game" - implying that Pitt might be seen as an easy target after a bye week.
While the Irish are expected to win, it's difficult to predict how much of a blowout we can expect. Narduzzi has emphasized that Notre Dame is a "complete team," but the Panthers' defense seems particularly formidable, with five sacks and three interceptions in their last game against Stanford.
The final score is looking like 34-24 in favor of Notre Dame, but it's hard to rule out Pitt from causing an upset. This one will be a great test for both teams as they look to close out the regular season on a high note.