Notre Dame heads into its Week 10 matchup against Boston College looking to make a final big splash before the College Football Playoff committee release its first rankings. Notre Dame needs to handle its business, and if the Irish run the table they'll have a great shot to make the College Football Playoff.
Notre Dame could certainly use some help from its past and future opponents, as well as some other upsets throughout College Football. If you're wanting to scoreboard watch this weekend there are plenty of games to keep an eye on.
Here is the Irish Breakdown rooting guide for Week 10, and the games are broken into Notre Dame resume builders and then teams the Irish are competing against for spots.
RESUME BUILDERS
#10 MIAMI (6-1) at SMU (5-3)
Location: Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas, Texas)
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Network: ESPN
Line: Miami -10.5, O/U: 50.5
Who To Root For: Miami, but SMU works as well
Miami winning certainly makes the early season loss for Notre Dame more impressive, as the Hurricanes will further solidify their Top 10 ranking. Miami winning out will likely knock out most of the other ACC contenders from being able to jump Notre Dame. Of course, Miami dropping a couple of games down the stretch could also drop the Hurricanes below Notre Dame. That means this game could end up helping Notre Dame no matter the result, but a win likely helps more.
NAVY (7-0) at NORTH TEXAS (7-1)
Location: DATCU Stadium (Denton, Texas)
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Network: ESPN2
Line: North Texas -6.5, O/U: 65.5
Who To Root For: Navy
Navy received more votes for the AP Top 25 than any other team who didn't make it and they are the last undefeated Group of 5 team. Their schedule has not been all that impressive so far, which is why that Midshipmen aren't getting much attention in the G5 race for the playoff. That begins to change this weekend as they begin a four game stretch that will define their season. Should Navy beat a really good North Texas team there's a chance they could jump into the first playoff Top 25 rankings.
FRESNO STATE (5-3) at BOISE STATE (6-2)
Location: Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Network: FS1
Line: Boise State -17.5, O/U: 50.5
Who To Root For: Boise State
Boise State is unlikely to be ranked in the Top 25 when the committee releases its first rankings, but with this game and an upcoming game against 6-1 San Diego State coming up they have a chance to eventually climb back in. The more Boise State wins the better it is for Notre Dame's strength of schedule.
#8 GEORGIA TECH (8-0) at NC STATE (4-4)
Location: Carter-Finley Stadium (Raleigh, N.C.)
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Network: ESPN2
Line: Georgia Tech -6.5, O/U: 58.5
Who To Root For: NC State
This game could have a double bonus for Notre Dame should NC State be able to pull off the upset. Not only would it boost Notre Dame's resume by giving an opponent it beat 36-7 a major victory, it would also knock down a team that is currently ranked ahead of the Irish. If Georgia Tech wins this game I expect it to be ranked higher than Notre Dame in the committee rankings, but a loss likely drops them behind and makes a second loss a guarantee they are behind the Irish. If Georgia Tech is 11-0 going into its matchup against Georgia and then loses a strong case could be made for them to still be ahead of Notre Dame, which makes hosting a playoff game a tad less likely for the Irish.
#23 USC (5-2) at NEBRASKA (6-2)
Location: Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Network: NBC
Line: USC -4.5, O/U: 59.5
Who To Root For: USC
Right now the 34-24 win over USC is the best on the docket for the Irish. USC jumped back into the Top 25 of the AP poll but we don't yet know where they will be in the first committee ranking. A road win over a 6-2 Nebraska team will likely ensure that USC is in the first playoff Top 25 and give them a chance to keep climbing, which strengthens Notre Dame's best win. Notre Dame fans might not like it, but USC running the table down the stretch is a very good thing for the Irish.
Keep an eye on Pittsburgh at Stanford, as the Irish hope the Panthers win and win big, which could vault them into the Top 25 before the two teams play on November 15th.
PLAYOFF CONTENDERS
#9 VANDERBILT (7-1) at #20 TEXAS (6-2)
Location: Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium (Austin, Texas)
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Network: ABC
Line: Texas -3.5, O/U: 46.5
Who To Root For: Texas
If Vanderbilt wins this game it's highly likely they are ranked ahead of Notre Dame on Tuesday, but it's just as likely they are behind the Irish should they lose on the road to Texas. The Longhorns have an outside shot of getting into the playoff if they can run the table, but the odds of them surpassing Notre Dame are slim. That's why a Texas win is good for Notre Dame.
#16 LOUISVILLE (6-1) at VIRGINIA TECH (3-5)
Location: Lane Stadium (Blacksburg, Va.)
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Network: CW Network
Line: Louisville -10.5, O/U: 53.5
Who To Root For: Virginia Tech
There's some angst that the ACC could get a third team in the playoff, which could potentially make it harder for the Irish to get in. While I think that's unlikely, it doesn't hurt if Louisville and Virginia get beat this weekend. Virginia Tech is coming off an overtime win over California, and another upset victory would keep the Cardinals permanently behind Notre Dame, assuming the Irish win out.
#5 GEORGIA (6-1) at FLORIDA (4-4)
Location: EverBank Stadium (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Network: ABC
Line: Georgia -7.5, O/U: 50.5
Who To Root For: Florida
I'm not sure that Georgia falls behind Notre Dame if they get upset by Florida, but there's at least a chance of that happening. It also would mean that one more loss ensures that Notre Dame surpasses the Bulldogs. I'm not sure how likely this is, but if DJ Lagway can get hot and Florida can finally play to its potentially in the post-Napier era there's at least a shot.
#13 TEXAS TECH (7-1) at KANSAS STATE (4-4)
Location: Bill Snyder Family Stadium (Manhattan, Kan.)
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Network: FOX
Line: Texas Tech -7.5, O/U: 52.5
Who To Root For: Kansas State
The ACC and Big 12 being multiple-bid leagues does make it harder for Notre Dame to get in, and especially hard to host a playoff game. Chaos in both leagues is welcomed, and Kansas State can provide that this weekend. If Kansas State can stay hot and knock off the Red Raiders it would make it much tougher for the Big 12 to have two teams ahead of the Irish. The ideal Big 12 scenario for Notre Dame is that Kansas State beats Texas Tech his weekend and then Texas Tech beats BYU next weekend. If that happens it would be incredibly tough for the Big 12 to have any teams ahead of Notre Dame in the rankings.
#15 VIRGINIA (7-1) at CALIFORNIA (5-3)
Location: California Memorial Stadium (Berkeley, Calif.)
Time: 3:45 PM ET
Network: ESPN2
Line: Virginia -5.5, O/U: 52.5
Who To Root For: California
Everything I said about the Louisville game applies here. If Virginia loses they have zero chance of being ranked ahead of a 10-2 Notre Dame team. Whether it's California or one of its next three opponents after this weekend, Irish fans should root for Virginia to drop one more game.
#18 OKLAHOMA (6-2) at #14 TENNESSEE (6-2)
Location: Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Network: ABC
Line: Tennessee -3.5, O/U: 56.5
Who To Root For: Oklahoma
This is the second weekend in a row that Notre Dame needs Oklahoma to pull off a win. The Sooners will have a tough time surpassing Notre Dame even with a couple of ranked wins, but Tennessee definitely has a shot should they win out and beat the Sooners and also beat Vanderbilt. The loser of this game is knocked out, but Oklahoma has a much tougher remaining schedule, meaning they have a better chance at catching another loss. That means Oklahoma upsetting Tennessee sets things up nicely for the Irish against the SEC.
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