Citrus Bowl 2018: College Football Writers Predict Notre Dame vs. LSU Result

The LSU Tigers will capture their 10th win of the season by beating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Citrus Bowl today, according to the consensus of college football writers.

One Foot Down collected 70 pre-game predictions from those who cover college football or the Notre Dame and LSU teams specifically. Of those, 41 said LSU would prevail today by an average score of 26 to 21. The 29 who picked the Irish said Notre Dame would prevail by an average score of 27 to 21.

Most of the guesses hewed closely to Vegas’ three point spread. The most popular prediction from those who picked LSU was 24-20, with the most popular prediction from those who picked Notre Dame being 27-24.

Other items that may be of interest:

• LSU has been the pick of 23 of the 39 writers who made a prediction after news broke Dec. 20 that Kevin Stepherson and C.J. Holmes were suspended indefinitely for allegedly shoplifting. That was also the day that LSU announced defensive end Arden Key would not play in the bowl game.
• One day prior, The Advocate reported senior linebackers Corey Thompson and Donnie Alexander would also miss the game due to injury. The Bleacher Report’s Ron Goldberg put in a 27-17 prediction for the Irish after Thompson and Alexander were ruled out, but before Stepherson and Holmes were also sidelined.
• Thirteen writers each picked Notre Dame and LSU since Saturday, when we learned that Deon McIntosh was sent home for a violation of team rules.

Here’s the entire list. What’s your prediction? Leave it in the comments below.