Notre Dame’s thrashing of Purdue was enough for Blue & Gold’s collection of six staffers to unanimously pick the Fighting Irish to beat the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks in South Bend on Saturday. Here’s what each of those half dozen staff members are predicting.

Tyler Horka: Notre Dame 35, Miami (OH) 7

One Mid-American Conference loss was enough for Notre Dame. It took the 11th try and a Fighting Irish team getting too far out in front of its skis for the MAC to finally notch a victory over Notre Dame, and it’s not going to happen two times in a row.

Notre Dame likes to run the ball. Miami can’t stop the run. Miami can’t run, and Notre Dame, when it’s at its best, stops the run. The matchup is squarely in favor of the power conference team playing the non-power conference team that’s already lost to two power conference teams this season. That, and it’s hard not to think the Irish might’ve found something it can build upon offensively in putting up 66 points at Purdue.

Jack Soble: Notre Dame 31, Miami (OH) 10

Miami is better defensively than a couple of Notre Dame’s Power Four opponents, particularly Purdue. It wouldn’t be a shock if the offense looks a little sluggish, at least at first, but the Irish seem to have found something in their three-headed rushing attack with sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love, senior quarterback Riley Leonard and junior running back Jadarian Price. The RedHawks have also not been great at defending the run so far this season, allowing 5.6 yards per carry.

I also think the Notre Dame defense really takes what happened during the last home game personally and puts on a show, halting any chance of a RedHawks upset.

Kyle Kelly: Notre Dame 23, Miami (OH) 16

Until I see differently, I believe the Irish could be in for another brawl with a MAC team — especially since former Notre Dame assistant Chuck Martin is Miami’s head coach. I’ll still give the Irish the benefit of the doubt to win, but I see it being much closer of a contest than what it should be.

Mike Singer: Notre Dame 34, Miami (OH) 9

The Irish had their seemingly annual test/loss against a Group of Five team already this fall when Northern Illinois pulled a stunner and knocked off Notre Dame. I don’t see it happening twice.

I like Notre Dame to win this one rather comfortably. Miami had a strong 2023 campaign and looks to have a competitive defense, but I don’t see the RedHawks having much success moving the ball on the Irish.

Todd D. Burlage: Notre Dame 40, Miami (OH) 10

Eleventh-year Miami head coach Chuck Martin — a former Irish assistant — and the RedHawks entered 2024 off of an 11-3 season in which they claimed the first MAC title for the school since 2019. 

The road to a repeat hinges on the play of RedHawks senior quarterback Brett Gabbert.

Playing his sixth year at Miami, Gabbert entered this season third in program history in passing yards (7,893) and touchdown passes (59). 

Miami opened up on Aug. 31, with a 13-6 loss. Then, following an early Week 2 bye, the Redhawks lost 27-16 to Cincinnati last Saturday. 

Statistically speaking, Miami hasn’t been very good through its first two outings. 

It averages only 11.0 points a game, it ranks 109th in total offense, and its rushing defense checks in at only 108th in the country.

All of it adds up to another Notre Dame rout on Saturday. 

Steve Downey: Notre Dame 27, Miami (OH) 6

Yes, the RedHawks won the MAC last year and were predicted to do it against this year, ahead of Northern Illinois among others. And yes, their defense — anchored by outstanding linebackers Matt Salopek and Ty Wise — is the real deal. That is reason enough to be concerned considering how poorly the Irish offense performed to start the season.

However, Miami (Ohio) doesn’t possess an offensive weapon the caliber of NIU’s Antario Brown, who was a one-man wrecking crew with 225 yards from scrimmage against the Irish in Week 2. I expect the Irish defense will be able to take control of this one, not unlike what happened to the RedHawks in their 13-6 loss at Northwestern in Week 1.

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