1)--Ian Book....Ian does get good credit from the pundit class for sparking the ND offense....but he is NOT really recognized as a TOP QB nationally.....BUT HE IS....his gaudy 70% completion rate is complimented by his #8 QB rating nationally, just behind the likes of Haskins , Greer, and Fromm... BOOK is not just a game manager he is a playmaker....Clemson gave up almost 500 yards passing to A&M and South Carolina...their secondary can be beaten and Book can do it.
2)---The spread is not realistic....many look at that 12 point spread and figure ND is given no real chance by odds makers.....but over under is 55...in reality Vegas experts see this game more as a 28/24 struggle,,,,The big spread only reflects popular opinion and money wagered because of all the Clemson will win chatter.....Many CFB experts see Clemson winning but in a close game....essentially the spread is misleading FAKE NEWS!
3) Notre Dame defense is UNDERRATED.....we are national leaders in yards per play allowed....national leaders in points allowed...National leaders in giving up big plays...national leaders in explosive plays allowed....The ND DEFENSE is DEEP & FAST,,,and is by far THE BEST DEFENSE CLEMSON HAS SEEN this season.
4) ND has loads NFL talent as well....All the talk is understandably about the Clemson front 4....all ready for the NFL draft....the best DLINE around ETC ETC.....But ND is also loaded with potential NFL talent,even if some are younger players....Its not just All Americans TILLERY & LOVE....by the time their careers are over its likely 11 players off these current Irish starters will sign with NFL teams....Our Roster is not a bunch of overachievers, not at all, there is a large group of ELITE players on Both sides of the ball.....
5 ) Notre Dame receivers are a nightmare match up for Clemsons secondary....Our Big, Tall, receivers are NOT what the Clemson secondary wants to see they are set up to bully the Clemson defensive backs all day long,
6) Too much is made of the 2012 drubbing Alabama gave ND,,,,The assumption freely made is that ND may be good enough to get there but NOT good enough to ever win.....this is false reasoning,,,that game has absolutely nothing to do with this one....The Players are all different, the coordinators are all different , the scheme is different , the opponent is different, the venue is different, only thing that's the same is ND still has the coach of the year running the show. 2012 means NOTHING!
7) KICKING GAME....Statistically the biggest advantage for ND.....Both punting and place kicking ND is in the top group of kickers,,14th and 19th respectively ,,while Clemson struggles in both categories with rankings in the 80s
📷 Venue and conditioning.....The VENUE favors ND , Clemson is a home field dependent team,,,,they absolutely excel at home and have one of the biggest home field advantages in CFB.....they will NOT have that.... Not only will there be more ND fans there, ND is a proven bunch of road warriors that thrive on the AWAY STAGE,,,,,In addition ND has shown to be stronger and more physical than all of its opponents in that final quarter,,, even in close games....clearly the BEST CONDITIONED and HEALTHIEST ND TEAM Kelly has ever taken into the postseason. That can be critical depending on how close this game is.
In summary , those who write off the irish do so at their own risk.....this is a balanced , big, fast, deep , team--we can run the ball , pass the ball , play great defense, tackle well, and kick the ball well--It will be a huge challenge even for the likes of Clemson to beat us....we will not go quietly into the night
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