CFB odds: Every year is a big year for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame but this year is shaping up as a major year of anticipation with the return of QB Everett Golson after he was suspended last year for academic issues. Golson was the trigger man in 2012 when the Irish made the BCS national championship game where they fell to Alabama. Golson’s value was revealed in 2013 as his absence left a noticeable void that Tommy Rees was never able to fill.
Head coach Brian Kelly has made moderate progress, besides the magical 2012 season that benefited from a soft schedule and a lot of Irish luck, and there has been little to suggest that the glory years are here. That is what makes 2014 so compelling for Notre Dame. The Irish will open the 2014 season with a home game against Rice on August 30.
September
Notre Dame hosts Michigan in a NBC Saturday Night game on September 6, faces Purdue at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL Colts, on September 13 in another NBC Saturday night game, and is at MetLife Stadium, home of the NFL Jets at Giants, vs. Syracuse on September 27.
October
Notre Dame hosts Stanford on October 4, hosts North Carolina on October 11, and has a major showdown at defending BCS national champion Florida State on October 18 with a bye week to follow. If the Irish are truly worthy of BCS playoff merit this will be the game that proves it.
November
Notre Dame faces Navy at Fed Ex Field, home of the NFL Redskins, on November 1 followed by a game at Arizona State on November 8. Notre Dame hosts Northwestern on November 15 before the home finale against Louisville on November 22. Notre Dame’s regular season finale is at USC on November 29.
