Notre Dame’s offense needs to wake up. If not, the Fighting Irish might run out of luck when they visit No. 18 Air Force on Saturday night.

In a matchup of teams that are 6-0, the Falcons seem to have the clear advantage. They lead the nation in rushing and score more than 40 points a game. Notre Dame has the fifth-worst offense and averages barely 23 points.

New coach Tyrone Willingham has the Irish off to their best start in nine years, but his West Coast offense is still sputtering. And don’t think his defense doesn’t know it.

“Every game the defense goes out and our mentality is to win the game by ourselves,” safety Gerome Sapp said this week. “We don’t want the offense to have to win any games. We realize the offense is going to handle their business when they need to, so in every game we put the game on our shoulders and say, ‘We have to win it.”‘

So far, it’s been a charmed season for Notre Dame. Just last week, the Irish were outgained 402 yards to 185 but still beat Pittsburgh 14-6 thanks to a defense that produced eight sacks and three turnovers.

Air Force, meanwhile, has no problem scoring with its triple-threat option led by quarterback Chance Harridge. The Falcons ran for 386 yards and routed BYU 52-9 last week, scoring TDs on their first four drives.

Harridge produces 102.5 of Air Force’s 339.2 yards rushing per game, and the quarterback has more touchdowns (15) than Notre Dame’s offense (11).

The last two games between Air Force and Notre Dame went to overtime: The Irish won 34-31 in 2000, and the Falcons won 20-17 in ’96.

“We plan on going into this game and having to play our best game of the season,” Sapp said.

They’ll need it.

The picks:

No. 9 Iowa State (plus 9) at No. 2 Oklahoma

Heisman-defining game for Cyclones QB Wallace? … OKLAHOMA, 28-24.

Rutgers (plus 42) at No. 3 Virginia Tech

Hokies won last two meetings by combined 99-0 … VIRGINIA TECH, 49-0.

No. 4 Ohio State (minus 7) at Wisconsin

Buckeyes can pass, too … OHIO STATE, 31-21.

Vanderbilt (plus 26) at No. 5 Georgia

After two close calls, ‘Dawgs get a breather … GEORGIA, 34-14.

Arizona State (plus 10 1â2) at No. 6 Oregon

Ducks find way to stop pass rush of DE Terrell Suggs … OREGON, 42-28.

No. 7 Notre Dame (plus 3) at No. 18 Air Force

Falcons have an offense, Irish don’t … AIR FORCE, 31-18.

No. 8 Texas (plus 2) at No. 17 Kansas State

Horns’ coach Brown is 0-2 vs. K-State … KANSAS STATE, 31-28.

No. 11 Michigan (minus 3 1â2) at Purdue

Wolverines due for downer … PURDUE, 28-27.

Duke (plus 24 1â2) at No. 13 North Carolina State

With win No. 8, Wolfpack match best start ever … NC STATE, 42-7.

South Carolina (no line) at No. 14 LSU

Tigers have nation’s No. 1 defense … LSU, 24-10.

No. 15 Iowa (minus 12 1â2) at Indiana

Hoosiers posted their upset last week … IOWA, 31-17.

No. 22 Washington (plus 8) at No. 19 USC

Best defense wins … USC, 34-31.

Northwestern (plus 25) at No. 20 Penn State

Bad calls shouldn’t affect outcome in this one … PENN STATE, 38-20.

No. 21 Mississippi (plus 11) at No. 24 Alabama

Rebels looking for first 3-0 league mark since 1970 … ALABAMA, 27-21.

Baylor (plus 28) at No. 23 Colorado

Buffs still Big 12 threat if RB Brown keeps chugging … COLORADO, 45-10.

Western Michigan (plus 15) at No. 25 Bowling Green

Sixth straight win gives Falcons best start since ’85 … BOWLING GREEN, 35-7.

Season: 105-34 (straight); 76-54 (vs. points)