The Anti-Preview: #16 Notre Dame Fighting Irish VS Virginia Tech Hokies

Okay, so as it turned out... the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will not make the college football playoff this season. While there was still a good amount of hope after the loss to Georgia, last weekend’s “showing” smacked all of us in the face with a healthy dose of reality.

At 5-2 and ranked #16 in the country, however, the Irish still have a really good chance at winning out and making a New Years 6 bowl game (the Cotton Bowl). That means this team still has a lot to play for in their eyes — even if a lot of its fanbase believed the season was over during halftime of the Michigan game.

Despite reports to the contrary... there is a game to play.

Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images

Virginia Tech Hokies

If you thought Notre Dame’s schedule was soft, you haven’t seen VT’s opponents this year. It’s a very real possibility that the Hokies will end the season with none of its schedule (other than Notre Dame) inside the top 25. It’s also a very real possibility that the Hokies can win the Coastal Division in the ACC, and play the Clemson Tigers in the ACC Championship.

HOLY SMOKES!

Justin Fuente seemed to have been on the hot seat before the season (and maybe he still is). He did, however, bring a Virginia Tech team to Notre Dame in 2016 and walked out a winner. This is also the last go around for longtime defensive coordinator Bud Foster, and after witnessing what Don Brown did last week, I am fairly concerned.

What should you be drinking?

It’s HELLO NOVEMBER time, and that means all of the Instagram and Pinterest fun from fall is almost gone. While Autumn still has a month and a half left on the calendar, in reality everything is slipping into winter in Northern Indiana. One last crack at those fresh apples...

Subway Domer One Foot Crack

One part Apple Cider or Apple Juice

One part Rum

Mix together in a large water bottle, apple cider jug, cup, keg- whatever. Mix and drink yo! The type of rum is almost inconsequential. Captain Morgan is always a solid choice, but Bacardi does make a Big Apple rum that works quite well too. It just doesn’t matter. You’ll be getting wasted with ease.

What should you be eating?

Cold weather just begs for a hot bowl of something.

The Worlds Greatest Cheap Simple Chili

• 1 large onion diced
• ¹⁄₂ teaspoon olive oil
• 1 ¹⁄₂ lbs. of lean ground round
• 1 can of dark kidney beans
• 1 can of diced tomato’s
• 1 package of a cheap chili seasoning (I prefer McCormicks)
• ¹⁄₄ cup of finely chopped celery

Heat up your oil and toss in the onions and celery. After a couple of sweaty minutes, dump in the ground round and cook till brown. Mix in the rest of the ingredients (do not drain the canned stuff- put it ALL IN). Add a half cup of water. Turn the heat on high and bring to a boil. Turn the heat on low, cover, and let it simmer for 10-30 minutes (or longer). If you use a crock pot or an over the fire kettle, adjust your cooking times accordingly.

Serve with cornbread and a big dab of butter (No, I am not going to give you a recipe for that- buy a fucking box of Jiffy and follow their instructions).

What should you be wearing?

I mean... jeans and a flannel? Not exactly a creative choice, and maybe you should wear a little bit of orange while you’re out hunting a giant turkey — but screw it. Here you go:

STATS ON STATS ON STATS

3 reasons to hate Virginia Tech

1. They didn’t beat the Florida State Seminoles in the Sugar Bowl for the 1999 national championship. We were rooting for you — and you let us all down you bastards.
2. VT was the last unranked team to beat the Irish. That happened all the way back in 2016. I hate them for reminding me of that dreadful year.
3. Their overhyped and overrated entrance for their home games. It was one of the singular reasons people gave last year as a reason VT would beat Notre Dame. People actually thought something that happens 5 minutes before kickoff would have some type of effect on the game. Seriously... and Enter Sandman is a trash song.

Keys to the game

Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

I suppose we could go a number of different ways here, but most important on the list has to be that the offense and Ian Book get off to a good and fast start. There is a ton of doubt when it comes to the offense in South Bend right now, and they will have to show that they can still be a team that can score 35+ points.

Defensively, Notre Dame will need to keep the shifty Deshawn McClease in check and push the Hokies to rely on the arm of Hendon Hooker. The Hokie quarterback is overcoming a knee injury, and might not be as mobile this week. Notre Dame will need a banner day from Julian Okwara, Khalid Kareem, and Jamir Jones to help keep Hooker in check.

At the end of the day...

The Irish have lost a lot of trust with the fanbase after last week. They have something to prove — even if some believe they “have nothing to play for” this season. I think they’re capable of coming back in a strong way, but will still need the full 4 quarters to take care of business. Irish 31 - VT 20.