Upset Alert: 5 college football teams in danger of losing in Week 7

LOUISVILLE, KY - SEPTEMBER 02: Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Tony Jones Jr. (6) takes a handoff from Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Ian Book (12) during the third quarter of the college football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Louisville Cardinals on September 2, 2019, at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, KY. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – SEPTEMBER 28: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks to pass during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Notre Dame Stadium on September 28, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

1. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Rank: 9 | Opponent: USC Trojans | Time: Saturday, Oct. 12, 7:30 p.m. ET

Outside of the their loss to Georgia on the road, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have been dominant to start the 2019 college football season. Even with that 23-17 defeat on their ledger, the Irish are averaging 41.0 points per game while giving up an average of just 14.8 points per contest. Ian Book and the offense have been rolling and get reinforcements as they face the rival USC Trojans on Saturday with running back Jafar Armstrong returning.

Having said that, the rollercoaster Trojans will get reinforcements of their own. Freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis, who started three games but left the third in the first quarter after suffering a concussion, has been cleared and will start against Notre Dame. Though they lost to BYU in overtime with Slovis at the helm, USC’s offense has looked undeniably their most explosive and simply their best with the youngster running the show.

Traditionally, when Brian Kelly is up against a team like USC that has the potential to be an offensive powder keg, he’s looked to play the ball control game. Notre Dame is running one of the slowest paced offenses in the country this season to employ that same type of strategy regularly. And you have to believe that continues with Slovis and a star group of wide receivers that can make big plays in a flash.

The danger of playing that strategy, however, is that those plays can still happen and allow USC to keep the pace. Moreover, if that happens or if the Irish commit mistakes, the Trojans can take the advantage. At that point, not only does Notre Dame have to get out of their rhythm but they may not be able to recover. And with all that in mind, the Irish are deservingly being put on upset alert.

Next. College football: Best bets of Week 7. dark

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