College football upset alert, Week 13: Alabama, Notre Dame among 5 teams in danger of losing

College football upset alert No. 4: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Rank: 2 | Opponent: at 19 North Carolina Tar Heels | Time: Friday, Nov. 27, 3:30 p.m. ET

To this point, Notre Dame has done everything asked to make it into the College Football Playoff, hence why they came in at No. 2 in the initial rankings. The Fighting Irish not only come into Week 13 with an 8-0 record but Brian Kelly’s team also knocked off then-No. 1 Clemson in double overtime three weeks ago.

Of course, it’s not been a perfect run to a perfect record for the Fighting Irish. They’ve been hitting their stride as of late but this is indeed the same team that only beat Louisville by five points and only beat Duke by 14 points. Moreover, quarterback Ian Book has been anything but consistent throughout his career at South Bend, so the potential for a letdown is there.

For as good as the Notre Dame defense has been this season, the offense at least has the potential to put them behind the 8-ball against a team like North Carolina. Sam Howell, Javonte Williams and an explosive Tar Heels offense have proven capable of putting points up on any team with a balanced attack littered with playmakers.

If that trend continues and Howell can deliver another star-caliber performance, the Tar Heels at least have the potential to put the Irish on the ropes in this one. With that, if Book isn’t playing at the same high level that he did against Clemson and Boston College, Notre Dame could end up in serious trouble on Friday afternoon in Chapel Hill.