GEORGIA(1-0) AT NOTRE DAME (1-0)
7:30 p.m. › Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind. NBC & 102.3 FM
THE MATCHUP
This one’s easy, as it will be strength against strength when Notre Dame looks to establish the run against Georgia’s run defense. The Irish gashed Temple last week for 422 rushing yards and 9.6 yards per carry behind dual-threat quarterback Brandon Wimbush (12 carries for 106 yards) and running backs Josh Adams (19-161) and Dexter Williams (6-124). “They run downhill at you,” Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said. “They have four offensive linemen who have played for a long time, and they are as good-looking an O-line as you will ever play. They are all big, and they do a good job of running the ball, but the quarterback’s dual-threat, and you saw the guy last week scramble around. This guy is going to be much faster and much more athletic doing that (compared to Appalachian State’s Taylor Lamb last week).” The Bulldogs are solid and experienced up front on defense and held the Mountaineers to 89 rushing yards through three quarters last week in building a 31-0 lead.
ONE TO WATCH
Also an easy choice, given that this will be the first career start for Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm. The true freshman from Warner Robins came in midway through the first quarter last Saturday and performed admirably, completing 10 of 15 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown. Now he will face a hostile atmosphere as the Bulldogs play the program’s first game ever at Notre Dame. “Jake has handled this situation really well, but some guys are going to have to play well around Jake,” Smart said. “This is not the Jake Fromm Show. This is not Jake Fromm’s game to win or lose. There is a team traveling up there. Everybody is making a big deal about Jake Fromm, but Jake Fromm has 10 other people who have to execute so that he can.” Senior tailbacks Nick Chubb and Sony Michel likely will be busy in the early going tonight, and the Bulldogs should be better at receiver this week with sophomore Riley Ridley returning from suspension.
IN THE END
There are several marquee games nationally, and this one has the potential to be as good as any of them. These two teams combined for a 12-13 record last year, but they each feasted on non-Power Five opponents in the opener to capture some early momentum. Although the Irish are favored tonight, Georgia has the more solid roster, especially if its special teams continue to show marked improvement from last season. Watching Notre Dame’s rushing attack against Georgia’s run defense will be a treat, but the game could be decided by what Fromm and the Bulldogs do against Irish defenders. If Fromm has a clean game, the Bulldogs will become the first SEC team to win in South Bend since 2001.