Score Prediction: The Sooners v. The Better

Last season, haters all around the country still considered #5 Notre Dame a pretender until the Fighting Irish upended the #8 Sooners in Norman, OK.  This season, those same haters point to Alabama's domination in the national championship as proof that they were right all along. 

Nobody beats the Boz,
except everybody beats the Boz.

Saturday's matchup between #12/14 OU and #22 ND can serve the same function as it did last year, though it will take place against a very different backdrop.  Everyone is waiting for the underperforming Irish to give up the fight and fold, but this game will let Brian Kelly's squad show their true colors in front of their emerald-clad home crowd.  Domers like to ask each other, "What would you fight for?"  This week, they fight for respect.  The outcome of this pivotal game, and the trajectory of the season, will depend on a few key matchups analyzed below:

But first, a look at my favorite answers from last year's newsok.com poll asking OU fans why they hate Notre Dame:

Jeff O'Dell from Ada, OK: “I'm a third generation hater. I learned this from my Grandpa, who hated Texas (naturally) Notre Dame and USC. Notre Dame because of OU's poor record against them and the fact that they ended the 47-game win streak. For me it's also the elite private school aspect of Notre Dame that helps me be a hater.”

Rex Renfrow from Atlanta, GA: “It is Touchdown Jesus. It is the homer announcers on CBS (NBC). It is the over rated hype they receive. Whatever, I hate Notre Dame.”

Notre Dame Fightin' Irish v. Oklahoma Sooners

Saturday, Sep. 28, 3:30 p.m. ET, Notre Dame, IN

Key Matchup:  Fightin' Irish DT Louis Nix III v. Sooners C Gabe Ikard: In this rematch of last season's battle between the best nose guard and the best center in college football, Nix needs a repeat performance of what may have been the best game of his career.  If he pushes the middle of the Sooner line back on a consistent basis, the game will fall squarely on Bell's shoulders.  He may be bigger than your average QB, but he comes nowhere close to Devon Gardner's speed.  It all comes back to Big Lou, and if Irish Chocolate gets the job done the rest of his speedy front seven (with the exception of Carlo "Molasses" Calabrese) should be able to chase "Bell Dozer" down before he can make game-breaking plays.  

Fightin' Irish Offense v. Sooner Defense: LET CAM RUN!  OU gave up 7 yards a carry against West Virginia.  The Fighting Irish O-Line is much bigger and better than their Mountaineer counterparts.  Plus, Cam McDaniel was "Mr. Texas" in high school.  You're telling me you don't want to give Mr. Texas the ball at least 20 times against Oklahoma?  There's not much Texans love more than running over Sooners.

Fightin' Irish Defense v. Sooner Offense:  Diaco's defense simply needs to play faster and tougher against Bell.  The Sooners QB has completed 70% of his passes thus far this season (albeit for only 451 yards).  If he connects on most of his short passes on Saturday, Notre Dame's loyal sons and daughters will be in for a long night (although they will look good regardless while wearing green).  The LBs will be key to this game, as they must prevent the short passes that Bell will look for as he also tests their ability to contain and tackle when he rolls out.  I'm feeling a big game for freshman phenom Jaylon Smith as he trumps Bell's experience with pure athleticism.

Final Outcome:  Cam The Man shows Oklahoma why they shouldn't mess with Texas, and a much more accurate Tommy consistently finds whichever receiver Gabe Lynn isn't covering on that particular play.  The Fighting Irish offense finally clicks, and the defense does just enough to keep Bell from pulling a Gardner.

Score Prediction:
Fightin' Irish: 34

Sooners: 24