Notre Dame vs. Massachusetts Prediction, Game Preview

After all the injuries and all of the drama over the first three weeks, Notre Dame (3-0) finally gets a little bit of a breather before diving back into the brutal slate with a trip to Clemson. Massachusetts (0-2) has a fun offense that can put up yards, but is still looking for its first win after getting ripped up by Colorado and losing a heartbreaker to Temple. Check out the Notre Dame vs. Massachusetts prediction and preview.

Notre Dame vs. Massachusetts Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, September 26
Game Time: 3:30
Venue: Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, Indiana
Network: NBC

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Why You Need To Care

Can UMass make this a game? With a high-powered passing attack and a veteran group of skill players, the talent and potential are there to do more. Now the points have to start coming. It’s been a rough and disappointing start to the year, and now the Minutemen have to hope the Fighting Irish are looking ahead.

Notre Dame has had issue after issue, from the loss of QB Malik Zaire, to a slew of other injuries, to needing a miracle against Virginia, it’s been fun so far. This is a very good, very talented team that’s showing its depth, but now it could use a light and breezy battle to get the starters of the field and the backups involved a bit more.

Why Massachusetts Will Win

Statistically, Notre Dame’s pass defense has been terrific so far. It helps, though, to have played Texas, who couldn’t throw, and Georgia Tech, who doesn’t. UMass quarterback Blake Frohnapfel is a sixth-year player who knows how to move an offense, throwing for 393 yards against the same Temple defense that shut down Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg cold. UMass will keep on pressing and keep on coming.

Why Notre Dame Will Win

The Fighting Irish won’t overcomplicate this. Start running, don’t do anything crazy, let the defense take care of the rest. The Minutemen locked up on the Temple running game, but got run over by Colorado, stampeded for 390 yards and five scores. The game plan will be simple. Pound away, and keep pounding with …

Player Who Matters

C.J. Prosise. The 6-1, 220-pound senior has more than come through since the loss of starting running back Tarean Folston. So far, Prosise has cranked out 451 yards with over nine yards per carry in each of the last two games. He steadied things after Zaire went down against Virginia, running for 155 yards and a score, and running amok on Georgia Tech for 198 yards and three touchdowns. As long as he’s working, DeShone Kizer doesn’t have to press.

What’s Going To Happen?

UMass will catch an unfocused Notre Dame early, but the power and the toughness of the Irish lines will turn out to make all the difference as the game goes on.

Notre Dame vs. Massachusetts Prediction

Final Score: Notre Dame 40, Massachusetts 16, Line: Notre Dame -28.5, o/u: 59.5

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