The No. 5 Clemson Tigers (8-0) will head to South Bend to play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-3) at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday night (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock). The Tigers are the frontrunners to win the ACC Atlantic division and are a contender for the College Football Playoff. Meanwhile, the Irish are looking to build off their win last week against ranked Syracuse and become bowl eligible with a win on Saturday night.
The Tigers lead the all-time series over the Fighting Irish with a record of 4-2, winning two out of the past three matchups since 2018. The last time these two teams played each other was in the ACC title game in '20 when Clemson crushed Notre Dame 34-10. Trevor Lawrence torched the Irish's defense for 322 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Notre Dame also struggled to stop the Tigers on the ground, as the Tigers posted 219 yards and two touchdowns.
Clemson had a bye last week after defeating then-No. 14 Syracuse 27-21 in Week 8. The Tigers ran all over Syracuse's defense for 293 yards and three touchdowns. Will Shipley led both teams with 172 yards and two TDs on 27 carries. However, the biggest story to come out of that game was Clemson benching Uiagalelei for freshman Cade Klubnik. Klubnik only completed two-of-four passes for 19 yards and had 15 rushing yards. Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney confirmed after the game that Uiagalelei will remain Clemson's starting quarterback going forward, though.
Meanwhile, the Fighting Irish have won two consecutive games after defeating Syracuse 41-24 at the JMA Wireless Dome in Week 9. Notre Dame's running game carved up the Orange's defense, rushing for 246 yards and three touchdowns. After a rough start to the season, the Irish have won four out of their last five games.
Below, we'll break down what you need to know before you bet on this Week 10 matchup between the Tigers and Fighting Irish.
2022 CFB ODDS: Heisman | CFP and National Champion
Clemson vs. Notre Dame odds
Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook
- Spread: Clemson -4
- Over/under: 44
- Moneyline: Clemson -195; Notre Dame +162
Three trends to know
— The Tigers are 6-0 straight up in their past six games against FBS Independent teams.
— Furthermore, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has a record of 20-5 after a bye week, according to BetQL.
— Do not sleep on the Irish, who are 17-3 straight up in their past 20 home games and 6-0 against the spread in their past six games against ACC teams.
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Three things to watch
— Can Uiagalelei play mistake-free football?: The main reason why Uiagalelei got benched two weeks ago was he threw two interceptions. Before that Oct. 22 matchup against the Orange, the veteran QB did a great job taking care of the football, throwing only two interceptions in the first seven games. Overall, the junior quarterback has played well this season, looking better than he did in 2021. Uiagalelei filled in for an injured Trevor Lawrence against Notre Dame in '20, he completed 29-of-44 passes for 439 yards and two touchdowns. He also added a rushing touchdown. Even though the Tigers lost in a double-overtime thriller, it showed how good he could be. If that guy shows up on Saturday night, the Tigers will be 9-0.
— Notre Dame's running game vs. Clemson's defense: If the Fighting Irish want to pull off the upset and keep Drew Pyne comfortable in the pocket, they will need to run the ball with effectiveness on Saturday. Heading into Week 10, Notre Dame is averaging 186.6 rushing yards per game this season and has run for 230 yards in back-to-back games. However, Notre Dame might have a few issues running the ball on Saturday night, as the Tigers are allowing just 87.9 rushing yards per game.
— Will Shipley vs. Notre Dame's defense: Speaking of running games, we would be remiss if we did not mention Clemson's standout sophomore running back. Shipley has been one of the better running backs in the country, rushing for 739 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. The North Carolina native is coming off an excellent performance against Syracuse on Oct. 22 when he posted a season-high 172 yards and two scores on 27 carries. Shipley has been an X-factor in the Tigers' offense and has helped them to start the season perfect at 8-0. We should expect Shipley to get a significant workload against a Notre Dame defense, which is allowing 129.1 rushing yards per game.
Clemson vs. Notre Dame prediction
The Fighting Irish have been playing well since their 1-2 start earlier this season, but they will be facing a Clemson team that has its eyes set on a conference title and CFP berth. Notre Dame QB Drew Pyne has played well this season in his first full year as a starter. However, the Tigers have the advantage at QB with the veteran Uiagalelei. Additionally, both teams are running the ball effectively, but the Tigers' defense should be able to slow down the Irish. It should be a fun game on Saturday night, with Clemson winning by at least a touchdown in South Bend.
Final score: Clemson 30, Notre Dame 23. Clemson (-4) covers the spread and keeps their undefeated season alive.
