Notre Dame football score predictions: NIU at Fighting Irish staff picks

It’s home-opener week for the Fighting Irish in South Bend. Notre Dame hosts Northern Illinois at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday as a 28.5-point favorite.

The consensus from six Blue & Gold staff members is Notre Dame will win. By how much? Find out below.

Tyler Horka: Notre Dame 38, Northern Illinois 10

The Fighting Irish have never lost to a Mid-American Conference opponent. They’re not going to do so now, especially in a home-opener two years after losing to Marshall, a Sun Belt team, in the same situation.

Mike Denbrock’s offense is built to feast on lesser competition. Al Golden’s defense is manufactured to completely shut it down. Look for Riley Leonard to have a stellar performance in his first Notre Dame Stadium game, even against a Huskies defense returning nine starters who helped the unit rank in the top 25 of all FBS teams in yards allowed per game last season.

This’ll be one of those statements that shows just how much of a different class the Irish are in and one that sets the tone for Notre Dame to beat up on similar foes in subsequent weeks in the near future.

Jack Soble: Notre Dame 41, Northern Illinois 14

The Huskies can run the ball and play defense, which is why it wouldn’t be a shock if the first quarter ends 7-7 or something along those lines. Expect NIU to ride senior running back Antario Brown — who has never averaged fewer than 6.1 yards per carry in a season — and its experienced offensive line.

However, Notre Dame is the better team on both sides of the ball and should run away with this one. NIU is strong on the defensive front and at cornerback, but look for senior tight end Mitchell Evans — if his snap count is increased — to exploit the soft middle.

Kyle Kelly: Notre Dame 38, Northern Illinois 13

When the Irish have recently hosted MAC teams at Notre Dame Stadium, the victories have been a mixed bag of results. In 2018, Notre Dame narrowly escaped losing to Ball State by pulling through for a 24-16 victory. Then, the Irish avoided an upset by beating Toledo 32-29 in 2021.

Northern Illinois has been known to play power conference programs closely. However, I like the outcome of this year’s game to be comparable to Notre Dame’s 41-17 win against Central Michigan last season.

Mike Singer: Notre Dame 45, Northern Illinois 13

The Fighting Irish have stumbled a bit when facing MAC opponents in recent years, but Notre Dame should cruise past the Huskies. Look for a big game from the ND running backs, and it should be rather easy for the Irish defense to slow down NIU.

Todd D. Burlage: Notre Dame 30, Northern Illinois 10

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman suggests otherwise, but given the strategy hours and emotional drain the Irish used up in their 23-13 win over Texas A&M, an Aggies hangover should be expected on Saturday against Northern Illinois.  

This is a good NIU team that was picked to finish third in the Mid-American Conference this preseason, returns nine starters from a defense that was third in the MAC last season in fewest yards allowed, and has won seven of its last nine games dating back to last year.

The Huskies won their opener, 54-15, over FCS Western Illinois last Saturday in dominating fashion, piling up 706 total yards, the third best mark in the country last weekend. 

As a four-touchdown favorite, depth and talent will carry the Irish to a win Saturday, but don’t expect many style points. 

Steve Downey: Notre Dame 44, Northern Illinois 0

The Fighting Irish are 6-0 against MAC opponents since 2010, winning by an average score of 41-17 despite a couple close contests being mixed in. With Marcus Freeman’s recruiting operation humming along, there is a clear talent disparity on display when Notre Dame takes the field against a MAC foe.

The ugly loss to Marshall two years ago is still seared into the minds of Irish fans, but Notre Dame took care of inferior opponents in convincing fashion last year and I expect that to continue in 2024. The Huskies will be breaking in a new starting quarterback this year — they hadn’t settled on a starter heading into their season opener — so I expect the veteran Irish defense to dominate in this matchup.