Bored - Need Football - ND Predictions
A little stir crazy here and tired of reading about practice standouts. Need to see a real football game.
Rather than battle over MSU/UM head to head predictions, I offer my NDame vs. the State of Michigan predictions.
Sadly, I predict that Notre Dame will beat BOTH UM and MSU. Perhaps I have given BKelly too much respect.
Thoughts?
August 23rd, 2011 at 2:47 PM ^
to beat us the past 2 years too, but they didn't. They had enough to beat Navy, but they didn't. They had enough to beat MSU too, but they didn't. etc. You get what I'm saying. ND is being vastly overrated by everyone, in my opinion. I think they're going to get challenged against USF, and win by less than 10. We'll win the UTL game. MSU is 50-50, in my opinion. They'll easily beat PItt, Purdue, and Air Force. A loss to USC. Wins against Navy, Wake Forest, Maryland, and Boston College. And then a loss to finish out the regular season against Stanford. They go 9-3 at best, 8-4 at worst.
August 23rd, 2011 at 11:28 AM ^
A smug sense of superiority incongruous with recent results. Also, complaints about the refs.
EDIT: sorry, forgot a Sparty wrote the OP. Translated: "They think they're good even when they suck, brah."
(I kid because I care. And because I never get to use "brah" in a sentence around here.)
August 23rd, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^
if the offence is clicking and working as designed I think we have a solid chance. if not then well I think we revert back to spread and get beat down since there is just to much film from last year for them not to be ready for that, and without RR I don't think Borges understands spread enough to keep teams on tere toes.
August 23rd, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^
I am actually with the OP on this one, I think ND will beat both teams this year. I do think they will be good games, but it may be a good year for ND.
ND 24 UM 23, Michigan makes 2 FG's but misses a game winning try in the last couple of mins.
ND 31 MSU 28, MSU takes early lead but can't seal the game in the 4th quarter.
August 23rd, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^
I have picked us to lose to nd for the past 3 yrs. luckily enough I have been wrong twice. I again think we lose this year and in another close. I believe that we certainly have a chance but nd is a good team and I am not sure we will be there at game 2.
August 23rd, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^
Notre Dame is starting to feel "owned" by Michigan. As is the case in the last 2 years, ND should beat Michigan. However, through the power of "ownership," Michigan prevails in knock down drag out affair 34-30.
As for MSU, trouble for the Spartans. You have one coming for your shenanigans last year. Michigan State's running game stalls, ND gets all the bounces. Irish win going away 31-13. (You honestly think you can pull a fake field go to win in overtime on Touchdown Jesus with no retribution? Not going to happen).
August 23rd, 2011 at 11:50 AM ^
UM:
Weteren Michigan- Show nothing O, Base 4-3 under D with no blitzing, shuts it down in the 3ed.
ND- Unleash the fury.
ND:
South Florida: comming off an 8-5 season(also beat Miami in south Beach) and seconed year with Skip Holtz. (QB returning plus 6 on D). Pro style and both UM/MSU can get some tape on ND due to they can't hold back .*crossing fingers*
UM: ND gets thrown into a woodchipper in AA.
MSU:
Youngstown State: the "tragic hero game" MSU shuts it down in the 2ed showing nothing.
FIU: Maybe you sell out EL unlike the shitshow at Ford Field last year. Shuts it down in the 3ed.
ND: MSU is real rested and gets thier first punch in the mouth, as ND has played a Big East/B1G team... score unkown.
EDIT: spelling is overrated.
August 23rd, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^
I think ND will beat both teams in close games. Brian Kelly has a great track record in his second year and ND finished the season with 5 straight wins including @USC and a bowl win over Miami. Michigan is switching systems and MSU loses a lot of starters, especially on the OL.
If Michigan beats ND, it's because the offensive system is clicking way more than it should be in the second game. If MSU beats ND, it's because their OL stepped up.
August 23rd, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^
I think what scares me about the Notre Dame game and maybe most of you is how the end of the season played out for both teams. I know it is easy to buy into the new management and hype going into this year, but this is the team that also got blown out the last three games of last year. On the other hand, Notre Dame ended several of their long standing losing streaks in beating USC and then winning their bowl game. Granted those teams are not stellar but it goes to show that this isn't the same Notre Dame team we are use to playing. Obviously, a year can make a huge difference but until I see Michigan play and prove my doubts wrong, I have to give the edge to Notre Dame based on the taste left in my mouth from last year.
So I am saying ND 31 - UM 21
And as far as ND-MSU, I think ND has the edge barring another unforseen trick play that Dantonio pulls out of his ass...
August 23rd, 2011 at 2:10 PM ^
I've said this in some other posts, but if ND had played Michigan's last four games last year, I bet they would have gone 1-3 (same as us) of 2-2 at best.
@ Purdue = W
Wisconsin = L
OSU = L
Miss. State = probably an L but this could be their other W
On the other hand, I'm sure Michigan would not have gone 4-0 with ND schedule, but they would have had a good chance at 2-2 or 3-1 I think.
Needless to say, I am not THAT impressed with the end of ND's season last year.
August 23rd, 2011 at 11:30 AM ^
Truthfully, this will be a tough game for Michigan to win. It's possible, but again, like last year, i don't think it's doom and gloom if we don't win. Why? Because it's non-Conference. Michigan State, and Ohio State are bigger games...Why? Because we need to break the cycle, and we also need B1G wins. In fact, Beating NW is more important right now than beating ND. If we can somehow scrap our way into the B1G title game, even losing to ND, I'd be happier than I've been since 2006.
In other words, I won't be discouraged or disappointed if we lose... the season won't be lost by any stretch. It will stink that my relatives will likely commence the smack talk, but whatever, we've got bigger fish to fry.
August 23rd, 2011 at 11:32 AM ^
Still suffers from the Curse of Ron Powlus.
Ever since people thought Powlus was going to lead the Domers to glory (but ended up failing spectacularly) every hyped-up QB ND trots out hasn't really lived up to expectations. Whether it was Quinn, Jimmy, even Carlyle Holiday, Notre Dame has been average, no matter the preseason hype. (Quinn did win in his last two years, but not enough for Domers' tastes.)
Crist was a 5-star, so he's right in that mold of a potential underachiever. Rees - he might be good, but we'll see. Unless there is marked dramatic improvement by either guy, the Irish are probably heading to another 3-5 loss season.
August 23rd, 2011 at 11:47 AM ^
I like how many ND fans say that ND beating USC was a great win because USC is a strong program but that Michigan beating ND was a fluke because their QB was injured.
I think I counted about 20 dropped balls by USC WR's in the ND/USC game last year. Not to mention Matt Barkley sitting on the sidelines while *Mitch Mustain* was calling the plays. If Barkley was in, I have no doubt he would have torched the ND defense.
Everyone is judging the ND team on their last 4/5 games... but who did they beat in 2010? They beat Army (a MAC level team that narrowly beat Eastern Michigan, team never passed the ball), Utah (a week after they got demolished by TCU), USC (without Barkley/receivers catching passes), Western Michigan, Pittsburgh (hey, Michigan beat the Big East champions), Boston College, Purdue (lower tier B1G team), and Miami (the only good win on their schedule).
Still, they have talent. They are overhyped, but they do have the players to have a strong 9 win season this year. One of those wins could be Michigan, but I'm thinking we pull it out 21-17. I'm going to cite the Big Chill as some backup because Mich. St. was a fairly good hockey team in 2010 and Michigan was faltering a bit but the atmosphere surrounding that special event rendered Mich. St. helpless as they got pummeled 5-0. I think something similar will happen to ND.
Mich. State will beat ND this year I think as well.
August 23rd, 2011 at 12:13 PM ^
Miami was the only good win on their schedule? That Miami team lost 6 games, one of which was to an 8 loss Virginia team. They also lost at home to South Florida.
I wouldn't consider that a good win by any means. I watched the first half of the Sun Bowl. Miami never showed up. Jacory Harris threw 3 interceptions in the first quarter.
August 23rd, 2011 at 2:52 PM ^
not being the only person who realizes that. I'm tired of ND fans saying that they were so good last year, and they'll be so good this year. Every time I hear a ND fan say that, I want to strangle them. I want to give a good beat down to them. I want every team on their schedule to smack them around. I really, really hate ND.
August 23rd, 2011 at 12:06 PM ^
...goes something like this:
Kelly & Krew Krazed as Mattison's Michigan Maulers Mystify.
August 23rd, 2011 at 2:41 PM ^
I never predict scores. But I'm well aware of the history factor when we play ND. Flukey plays will end up happening that will haunt you for many, many years. Giving up a turnover or a big play on defense will always happen at the worst possible time (like giving up that 99 yard TD pass with less than 2 minutes in the game last year.)
You can better prepare yourself mentally for this game if you remind yourself that these things will happen. Don't let the 03, 06 and 07 games fool you. This game comes down to the final minute alot. We had top 5 teams in the 90's that had to battle for their lives against Irish squads that weren't even good enough to make a bowl game.
Very few Michigan fans I have talked to like our chances in this game. Obviously I really, really, REALLY hope they're wrong.
August 23rd, 2011 at 12:20 PM ^
Michigan 27 Notre Dame 14
MSU 31 Notre Dame 7
August 23rd, 2011 at 12:38 PM ^
Prediction: I'm going to be pissed if I spend all this money on a ticket and a flight only to see Michigan lose. (Not too mad though - its going to be an awesome spectacle!)
August 23rd, 2011 at 12:41 PM ^
Just had a blurb from a Press Conference with that cocksucke..I mean Brian Kelly and he named Crist as the season starter. Maybe Kelly uses better judgment on throwing out a QB who can't see out of both eyes this year.
August 23rd, 2011 at 12:42 PM ^
Michigan 31 ND 28
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<br>ND 33 MSU 31
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<br>Book it.
August 23rd, 2011 at 12:57 PM ^
ND beats both teams, IMO.
August 23rd, 2011 at 1:02 PM ^
Always the optimist, I believe both our offense and our defense will be much improved from last year. Even by the second game, I believe our offense will be in gear with a primary back who is gaining big yardage (my hope is that it is either Toussaint or Rawls) and a Denard doing much better with the WCO than many seem to be willing to believe. Denard will have another big day, and so will our back. The offense will be better than last year against ND. Our defense will throw a shutout, or close to it. For the last three years we have had decent players totally uncoached on defense (plus some crippling injuries in our thinnest positions, like Woolfolk being out all year last year), but this year we have better, more experienced players with the best defensive coaching we have had in over ten years. I think our defense will be a top 40 defense and maybe even a top 25 defense, because of Mattison, Hoke and the other defensive coaches. So, all in all, I see us tattooing ND, with us scoring from 24 to 35 points and holding ND to no more than 10. As for MSU-ND, I hope MSU wins only because I despise ND even more than MSU.
August 23rd, 2011 at 1:23 PM ^
It makes sense for Michigan to try and surprise ND by jumping on them early with some trickery/unique playcalling. I think it will work to some extent, with Michigan out to a 10 point lead at halftime. ND will claw back to tie early on in the fourth quarter, but Denard will take over the game and march down the field to score. 27-20 M.
With MSU down in South Bend, things get pretty murky for them. I'm still thoroughly convinced a major "Sparty no!" event is going to come crashing down on them at some point this upcoming season, and the South Bend crowd won't back down. I see ND jumping out to a 14-0 lead early and eventually winning 21-17 due to a key MSU turnover on a play in the endzone.
August 23rd, 2011 at 1:35 PM ^
I predict Crist will be the starter.
August 23rd, 2011 at 2:25 PM ^
I predict Touchdown Jesus goes into hiding the week of the MICH game, and MICH wins 42-24. Touchdown Jesus then comes out of hiding and beats teh shit outta MSU and leads ND to a 12-1 record.
August 23rd, 2011 at 2:49 PM ^
Notre Dame will probably be one of the toughest teams we face this season. They should be damn good. I think we can pull out a small victory simply due to the ridiculous home field advantage that game will provide.
Michigan 38 - Notre Dame 34
I think Notre Dame will be able to beat MSU this year.
Notre Dame 38 - MSU 24
August 23rd, 2011 at 3:11 PM ^
pick ND over Michigan in any year, period. Obviously ND has been over rated quite often. It is a rivalry game, where, like other posters have mentioned, strange shit happens and haunts either team's memory. I like UM at night, at home, with a renewed vigor and pride, and they will beat ND in a close one. I was appalled that Kelly allowed Crist to play at all against UM after his injury last year. I lost alot of respect for him over that. This is going to be an exciting Michigan team, and I am juiced up for the opener. GO BLUE!