Notre Dame will have to play very poorly to not cover

I watched all of the UNC-TCU game and chunks of Clemson-UNC (while following the score), and the Heels just look like a slightly more competent version of last year's team overall. Too many folks thought the win over TCU in Dublin meant something, but it was an ugly game between teams that looked destined for 5-7.

They just don't have anything to hang their hat on. The run D was good vs. TCU and bad at Clemson. The QB transfer was decent vs. TCU and bad at Clemson. The run game was bad vs. TCU and good at Clemson. At Clemson, they played great early and should've put the game to bed by halftime, but then got torched by the Tigers offense and a true frosh QB making his first start from the final possession of the 1st half onward.

They're trying that Belichick style of being a stout jack-of-all-trades that doesn't screw up, but they just don't have the dudes to pull it off anywhere near a high level. And they've swapped out a QB who is balling at for Wake Forest for a much less mobile/dangerous QB who's completing 50% against FBS opponents. They do look sturdier up front on D this year, though, and their TE transfer from Ohio State is good.

UNC should not be any more effective offensively than ND's P4 opponents have been thus far, so it's really just a matter of whether the offense plays a "Michigan State" game or actually shows up.