NAVY AT NOTRE DAME
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT
TV: NBC
Las Vegas Line: Notre Dame -14.5
Whereas most college football rivalries are predicated on mutual hatred, the Notre Dame-Navy series is founded on respect. The two Under Armour-sponsored teams will wear matching undershirts saying as much Saturday when the Midshipmen and Fighting Irish meet for the 89th time.
Navy and Notre Dame will wear identical shirts, gloves and cleats for their 89th game http://t.co/VIIKnt0Im5 pic.twitter.com/I5vuGxUhUS
— Scott Allen (@ScottSAllen) October 6, 2015
Respect aside, expect a hard-hitting game in this intriguing clash of styles.
Navy’s consistently been a challenge for Notre Dame throughout head coach Ken Niumatalolo’s tenure. The Mids’ triple-option offense is executed with such flawless precision, even the nation’s most talented defenses (like Notre Dame’s) must play a fundamentally sound game.
Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds meeting Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith feels like a Wrestlemania main event. I see Reynolds as Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, looking to use his quickness and snap-decision making to counter the power and speed of Smith’s Randy “Macho Man” Savage.
A bad analogy, perhaps: Savage showed Steamboat no respect. But I could see Smith coming off the top rope with the ring bell to keep Reynolds out of the end zone — metaphorically, of course.
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