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BYU vs. Notre Dame 2012: TV schedule, game time, spread and more

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No. 5 Notre Dame must get past BYU and its stingy defense on Saturday in order for the Irish to retain their national title aspirations.

Jonathan Daniel

The No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish will host the BYU Cougars in a battle of Football Bowl Subdivision independents at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday.

The Fighting Irish are sitting at 6-0 after a thrilling 20-13 overtime victory over No. 20 Stanford. Tommy Rees replaced Everett Golson at quarterback late in the game and proceeded to complete all four of his pass attempts, including a seven-yard touchdown strike to TJ Jones in the extra period.

BYU is 4-3 following a 42-24 home loss to No. 8 Oregon State last Saturday. Quarterback Riley Nelson was reinstated as the starter prior to that game after Taysom Hill suffered a season-ending injury near the end of the Cougars' 6-3 win over Utah State on Oct. 5. Nelson threw for 305 yards and a touchdown against the Beavers, but he was picked off three times.

Notre Dame is 4-2 all-time against BYU, including a 49-23 rout of the Cougars in 2005, which was the most recent meeting between the two schools. Both of BYU's victories have come by one score, while the Irish have outscored the Cougars by an average of 24 points per game in their four wins.

Odds: Notre Dame is favored by 13 points, a small shift from the opening line of 14. Two good defenses will be on the field, which is reflected in the over/under of 40.

TV: NBC