2012 Mich at ND Implications

I need to go to bed

I would agree that if both teams were undefeated, it would be a game with HUGE implications....

But, something tells me the chances of both teams being undefeated is pretty small

I have no animosity for Brian Kelly, and I wanted to think that he would be a good coach in South Bend just so our games against them would matter more, but I just can't buy this. There were at least a dozen times last season where Notre Dame made some dumb mistake and I thought to myself, "this reminds me of Michigan in the RR years, I'm sure glad this doesn't happen anymore under Hoke." And I was a RichRod supporter. 

It's a big stretch to believe that Michigan will beat Alabama and that Notre Dame will survive a road game at MSU and a neutral game again always-tough Navy. Chances are good that both teams will be sporting a loss.

Even if they aren't, it's a long way from September to a National Championship game. A very long way. It is a path that takes each team to the home field of their rebuilding arch-rival, among other serious challenges. It is highly unlikely that when the story of 2012 is written, the UM-ND game will be seen as one of its pivotal moments. 

Even if Michigan manages to win them all, ND will finish with 3 or 4 losses at least. They are not championship material.

Like you said a lot can change but at that point in the season yes I can see both teams being on the fast track to the Championship.

If Michigan goes undefeated in non conference but loses a game in conference I could still see them in the Championship Game. A lot can change though not much else to talk about.

To your point, I don't see any reason that the "Notre Dame is over valued before running into us" effect on how we're perceived after beating them won't be present again next year (not so much last year, because of USF, but every Rich Rod year that was present). But if Michigan goes to Jerryworld and beats Alabama then I don't think there's any question that they're going to go down to South Bend and blast Notre Dame. I think the effect of beating Alabama would kick us into the top 5, but beating more teams can never hurt.

Where does this 3 year rule come from? Their squad last year had an offensive line and running attack that stuck it to both Michigan and Michigan State,  yet some combination of Brian Kelly's ineptitude, Tommy Rees being within 30 miles of the game being played, and the team not buying in casued them to be a pretty mediocre football team. Until a team from that school bucks up and fights for a win when it matters (football or basketball), I'm not too concerned with facing any of their teams on a high profile stage. 

I'm more worried about -->

I am more worried about Alabama for two reasons:

1. ND's QB situation imploded as the year wore on for them and I have to think that problems will still exist with that position as Brian Kelly seems like a headcase.

2. When the news of Sheppard leaving came out I was chatting with some ND fans on other boards and found out they have 4 total CBs that have a combined 0 starts. So yea Manti Teo returns and their run D should be good, but that secondary should be very thin and susceptible. 

They lost too much, have too many questions, and have too tough of a schedule to do any better. They won't be in the national championship hunt. On the other hand, I think that we will. We are very capable of beating Alabama and even if we don't, losing the first game, especially if it's close, is the best game to lose. The rest of the schedule should pose no significant challenges, especially the ND game.

If we beat Bama its gonna vault us into America's top 3 easy. But I just don't see that happening, especially with the emergence of AJ McCarron. D Rob, on the other hand, was not throwing the ball well in the Sugar.

Oh, and we don't have any playmakers at WR / TE at the moment, aside from Roundtree, whos receptions dipped from 72 to 19 as soon as they put him on the outside.

I can see both Michigan and ND coming into the game at 2-1 and Brian Kelly's head assploding like a ripe watermelon.

I think this post defines wishful thinking. The scenario posed is unlikely.

You can get into the championship game in September, but you can play your way out of it in October and November. I'm more bullish on this season (and the schedule) than most people, but I don't think it's fair to say that this is a play-in championship game with 8 games still left on the schedule. I say that for both teams. Michigan still has trips to Nebraska and Ohio State and hosts the juggalos. Notre Dame still has Oklahoma, Stanford, and USC on the schedule.

The beauty of the best programs is that they don't have one game that makes the season.

If we beat Bama, and I like our chances, then we go right to the top of the food chart. ND at night at home will not be a cake walk.

If we go into the season prepared well and "hongry", we'll be in the top 5 all year as long as we stay focused, I really believe in this staff and what they can do, I think the sky is the limit!

???

Last spring and summer there was quite a bit of disparaging talk about our shortcomings and weaknesses. Maybe it was justifiable. Thank God our boys listened to our great coaches and played extremely well down the stretch. Sure, for 2012 we have a few holes to fill and some what ifs to contend with, such as: What if BWC steps up and "gets it"; what if JB or QW or RA, or even Pee Wee becomes a force on the DL; what if BC starts believing he is the second coming of King Charles; what if Def Roh strives in the switch; what if DRob kicks it up a notch or two; what if 'Tree or JG or even JJ becomes all world? I know there are a lot of ifs here - but Coach Hoke and his staff have me believing in what we would have thought as highly unlikely a few seasons back. Not anymore - I am a firm believer in team 133 with this coaching staff. Let’s reload and go beat the Tide!

well I'll be that guy.. No it's not a play in game. Jesus theres 8 games after that including a gauntlet at Ohio, Nebraska, and a pesky Iowa and sparty team that has had are number for the couple of years at home. I'm going to say far from it. I hate to be a debbie downer but this isn't the year for a NC run. I like the way the 2013 schedule looks compaired to 2012. Hopefully Devin will be up to the task.

Just like nobody wins a PGA tournament on the first day, no football team makes the BCS "Championship" game in the fourth game of the year.  Unfortunately, though, the same thing holds true in football as in golf.  While you can't win any championships in the fourth game, you can take yourself out of consideration with a bad day.

I really like catching ND the week after they play state.  Usually, they expend all of their energy against Michigan and have none left for MSU.  Finally, MSU gets ND's full attention, and Michigan gets to play them after they have just expended a lot of energy against Sparty.

I don't like Michigan's chances against Alabama, but I like their chances to spank ND this year.

ND's offense is in a shambles. They lost the only guy they could depend on. They are probably going to be relying on a freshman QB. Brian Kelly has melted everyone's brain and the pressure is only going to increase for him.

I don't see how third year magic will save them. I think it is much more likely that the pressure of a make or break season for their coach kills them.

let's just see if we can beat Alabama in a "neutral" site first.

this is all kind of irrelevant until after the bama game. that's kind of a tall order to fill to beat them, regardless of how much talent they lost.

MSU will have a good enough defense to beat the Irish in their house. MSU will have already been tested by Boise, and thus will know what it will take to beat ND. Although MSU's new QB will still be learning his position on the job, he will hit enough passes against ND's weak secondary to keep the defense honest. M WILL be undefeated and thus might be over-confident going into the game. It again will go down to the last few minutes before M's ground game wears down the ND front 7 and drives for the winning score.

Should be a pretty good game regardless of the record of either team. ND's front 7 and O line will be another challenge for M's revamped lines. The Alabama game will tell us a lot. Either way, I'd expect a close one.