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[h=2]Larry Ness’ 10* Sunday Night CFB PERFECT STORM (ND/Texas!)[/h]My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Notre Dame (7:30 EST).
The Fighting Irish annihilated the Longhorns 38-3 at home last year and while I won’t predict as big a lop-sided blowout this season, I think Notre Dame is once again in line for a victory in this nationally televised contest. Texas was 5-7 SU/ATS last season and head coach Charlie Strong is in the “hot seat” this year, needing to produce a bowl game at the very least to save his job. The Longhorns enter the 2016/17 campaign with a new offensive coordinator in Sterlin Gilbert. Shane Buechele will likely see a lot of playing time under center and he’ll be leaning heavily upon his RB’s in Chris Warren and D’Onta Freeman. The Longhorns should be better defensively, they have a solid linebacker unit which is led by 2015 Freshman All-American Malike Jefferson. The Irish were 10-3 SU and 8-5 ATS in 2015. ND finished inside the Top 35 in almost every offensive category, including total yards (466.7) and scoring (34.2). True, Notre Dame lost some significant offensive stars from that team, but in Football, that just means “next man up!” The Fighting Irish have two of the nations best QB’s in Malik Zaire and DeShone Kizer, each who have the luxury of throwing to a stable of elite WR’s. ND was good, not great, on the defensive side of the ball last season, allowing 24.0 PPG. But just like on the offensive end, the Irish have a wealth of talent on the defensive side of the ball this year as well. Texas should be better this season, but it’s questions at QB are a big concern in this opener. Notre Dame has not one, but two gifted signal callers. That’s going to be the difference today. Lay the points.
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