Tale of the tape, predictions: Notre Dame football returns with home game against Pittsburgh

SOUTH BEND — The 14th-ranked Fighting Irish enter week nine with a 6-2 record following a 48-20 win over rival USC on Oct. 14 at Notre Dame Stadium. The Irish return to the friendly confines of its home stadium this week with 2-5 Pittsburgh coming to town (3:30 p.m., NBC).

Here is the tale of the tape between the Panthers and Notre Dame:

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When Notre Dame has the ball

While Notre Dame scored 48 against USC, the offense didn’t have a stellar performance.

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Five USC turnovers caused by the Irish defense helped setup numerous short fields for the home team. Notre Dame also scored on a 99-yard kickoff return from Jadarian Price and a fumble return for a score by safety Xavier Watts.

Notre Dame gathered 251 yards of offense against the Trojans, including a pedestrian-like performance from quarterback Sam Hartman (13-for-20 passing, 126 yards, two touchdowns). Given the Irish didn’t have to do as much on offense to score, it was hard to tell if they solved any of the issues that plagued them the prior three games.

They’ll have a good chance to show if they’ve grown offensively against a Pitt defense that ranks 64th in the country with 24.6 points allowed per game. The Panthers’ defense has done its job to keep its team in games, as three of its losses have come while allowing 27 or less points.

Even with some solid defensive players like Donovan McMillon and Marlin Devonshire, Notre Dame has plenty of options to use to score the ball with.

Edge: Notre Dame

When Pitt has the ball

This was supposed to be Phil Jurkovec’s third time playing his former team. Instead, the former Notre Dame quarterback was benched after a 38-21 loss to Virginia Tech on Sept. 30, dropping the Panthers to 1-4 at the time.

Christian Veilleux, a redshirt sophomore transfer from Penn State, has started the last two contests. He’s been efficient in both contests, throwing for a combined 502 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions.

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Pitt’s leading rusher is another familiar name to Notre Dame fans, as former Irish tailback C’Bo Flemister is tops on the Panthers with 282 rushing yards. He and Rodney Hammond Jr. are a 1-2 tandem in the backfield, as the two both average 4.1 yards a carry. Konata Mumpfield is the top catching threat for Pitt with 30 receptions, 347 yards and three touchdowns.

The Panthers’ offense gets its toughest test yet with the Notre Dame defense, which ranks 12th in yards allowed per game this season (283). It’s also coming off a dominant performance against USC, one of the best offenses in the country. Having guys who can control the game at each level like defensive lineman Howard Cross, linebacker JD Bertrand and Watts poses a lot of problems for Pitt.

Edge: Notre Dame

Special teams

Notre Dame finally showed life in the return game with Price’s 99-yard scamper against USC. Spencer Shrader made both field goal attempts and all six extra points, while Bryce McFerson averaged 45.8 yards a punt to give the Irish a clean night in the special teams department.

Ben Sauls is a good kicker for Pitt, converting 77% of his kickoff attempts into touchbacks. He’s only attempted nine field goals this year, making six. The Panthers have had an explosive kickoff return for a touchdown this year as well, with Kenny Johnson running one back 100 yards in a 38-24 loss to North Carolina on Sept. 23.

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These two teams are very similar in this part of the game, so let’s call it even.

Edge: Even

Coaching

Pat Narduzzi has been the head coach at Pitt since 2015, with mixed results. His best season was 2021, going 11-3 while winning the ACC Championship and earning a Peach Bowl invite. Most of his teams have hovered around the 7-5 mark, however, with his overall record being 64-45.

The edge in the coaching battle might belong to Notre Dame purely for defensive coordinator Al Golden, who schemed a masterful plan to contain reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams and USC two weeks ago. If Golden can do something similar against Pitt, the Irish could potentially shutout the Panthers.

Edge: Notre Dame

South Bend Tribune staff predictions for Game 9 against Pitt

TOM NOIE: Notre Dame 38, Pittsburgh 13: Everything about the Notre Dame offense to begin the final four games looks a lot like the first four games. Except Sam Hartman and his since-shaved black beard.

MIKE BERARDINO: Notre Dame 31, Pittsburgh 13: Fresh off the bye, the Irish have too much in the tank to mess around with the 2-5 Panthers.

MICHAEL WANBAUGH: Notre Dame 45, Pitt 10: It won't be fancy, but still convincing and efficient for the host Irish.

AUSTIN HOUGH: Notre Dame 28, Pittsburgh 3: Not sure if the Irish offense hums like it did the first month, but it scores enough while the defense suffocates whatever Pitt tries to do offensively.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Tale of the tape, predictions: Notre Dame football returns with home game against Pittsburgh