Blogger So Dear Staff Predictions: Wake Forest vs. Notre Dame

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons travel to to Notre Dame today, in what begins a brutal two game stretch. Wake Forest plays at #4 Notre Dame this afternoon, and then at #1 Clemson next week. Absolutely brutal. The staff offers predictions below.

Jake: ND 42 Wake 10 Wake undoubtedly has the toughest two game stretch in the country, which is suboptimal for a rebuilding program. Hoping for an injury free game.

Grumpy Deac: Notre Dame 41-6. I'd like to guess it would be surprisingly close, since Wake has a tradition of embracing the trap game role. But, I have to think Notre Dame will be focused on putting the game away handily since it is fending off potential playoff claims from the likes of undefeated Baylor. Time to decide what a moral victory looks like in this one.

Samurai: Notre Dame 42-7. This is going to be ugly. Bowling shoe ugly. Raiders of the Lost Ark face-melting ugly. I wish I could provide more insight than that but I really can't think of anything. Notre Dame is good, really good, and as much as we've had flashes of near-brilliance, I just don't see it happening on the road and against a team that'll continue to jockey for playoff position down the home stretch.

Chris: ND wins 47-6. As everyone has said, this game won't be close. Maybe it'll be close for a quarter. But this doesn't have the trappings of a game that we keep close until midway through the second half when the better team pulls away. Notre Dame is a playoff contender and will look to stomp teams on its way there. I doubt we score an offensive touchdown.

Bart: Notre Dame 37-7. If the season ended today Notre Dame would be one of four teams competing for the national championship while Wake Forest would be watching in their Christmas onesies hoping that the next season will end in a bowl appearance. Anything COULD happen but on the road in South Bend against a team who is rolling right now isn't a good look for the Deacs. Irish cruise in this one.

Rob: Notre Dame 42-10  It might be close for the early portion of the game, given that Wake is coming off of its bye week, but I expect the Irish offense to kick into a second gear after the first quarter. From that aspect, it could be similar to last year's FSU game. Wake was up 3-0 after the first quarter, but lost 43-3. The Irish's front seven is going to stop our run game, and we're probably going to stick with it, even though we shouldn't.

Riley: Notre Dame wins 38-10. Not much to say that hasn't already been said.