Florida State @ Notre Dame preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 18, 2014 ) Notre Dame 27, Florida State 31

Notre Dame continues its march to an undefeated season and a berth in the College Football Playoff as it hosts Florida State on Saturday evening. The third-ranked Fighting Irish are coming off a tough road win at Northwestern, while the Seminoles’ season continues to spiral downwards.

Notre Dame found itself in a tie game at Northwestern at the half last weekend, but quarterback Ian Book threw two touchdown passes in the third quarter and ran for another in the fourth for the 31-21 win. “It's a pretty awesome feeling. It's hard to win in November. We're in such a good situation, and we know that, but I think this team does such a good job of focusing one week at a time,” Book told reporters after the game. One week after suffering its biggest home loss in school history, Florida State didn’t fare much better as the Seminoles got smoked 47-28 at No. 22 North Carolina State. “We've got to learn to translate our effort and the way we work the sidelines to the football field. That's something we didn't do,” coach Willie Taggart told reporters after the game.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC. LINE: Notre Dame -17.5.

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (4-5): Florida State gave up 10 or more points in every quarter last week to the Wolfpack, as the defense had no answer for quarterback Ryan Finley (240 yards, three touchdowns) or NC State’s backfield (177 rushing yards, two TDs). Offensively, quarterback James Blackman started in place of Deondre Francois (undisclosed injury) and impressed with 29-of-46 passing for 421 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. D.J. Matthews was his favorite target with 10 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown, while Tamorrion Terry added five receptions for 142 yards and two scores.

ABOUT NOTRE DAME (9-0): Notre Dame looked to be in control with a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter, but a blocked punt helped Northwestern get within three before Book’s 23-yard touchdown run with 2:45 remaining sealed the win. Book finished the day 22-of-34 for 343 yards to improve to 6-0 as the starting quarterback. Receiver Chase Claypool had his best game of the season with eight catches for 130 yards, while Michael Young (two catches for 60 yards) and Miles Boykin (four catches for 54 yards) each hauled in touchdown passes.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Frigid conditions are expected in South Bend, Ind., on Saturday evening with a high of 33 degrees and a low of 26.

2. The Seminoles have the lowest yards-per-rush average of all Power-5 conference teams (2.3) and the second-lowest mark in FBS.

3. Florida State took 16 penalties for 121 yards in last week’s loss - the second straight week it has drawn 16 flags.

PREDICTION: Notre Dame 45, Florida State 28