TV/radio:
2:30 p.m. Saturday; WMAQ-Ch. 5, WLS-AM 890.
Line:
Notre Dame by 7.
Records:
Stanford 4-1; Notre Dame 5-0.
Last meeting:
Stanford won 28-14 on Nov. 26, 2011 in Palo Alto, Calif.
ON THE OFFENSIVE:
Another 300-plus rushing yards for the Irish, against the nation’s No. 6 run defense? Not happening. But if the line keeps QB Everett Golson upright, he could hurt a Stanford defense suddenly susceptible to big plays.
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GETTING OFFENSIVE:
No. 7 Notre Dame should contain No. 17 Stanford’s run game, a la Michigan State’s. But Cardinal TEs Zach Ertz and Levine Toilolo are more dangerous than anything Michigan State offered, putting pressure on CBs Bennett Jackson and KeiVarae Russell.
THE NUMBER:
434. Difference between Stanford’s total rushing yards (642) and Notre Dame’s (208) in the programs’ last three meetings.
THE TALK:
Nothing much at stake for the Irish except a gilded, wide-open path to a BCS berth with a victory. Take down Stanford, win all remaining games in which it is favored and Irish basically are assured of a spot in the top tier of the postseason.
BRIAN HAMILTON’S PICK:
It’s a coin-flip. The Irish just had midterms, one or two big plays either way can tilt it, but there won’t be enough Cardinal offense. Barely.
Notre Dame 17-13