CFN Prediction: Michigan 34, Notre Dame 31
I know, I know. CFN. Consider the source, son!
But hey, they DID predict UM 52, App State 13 during Week 1, so there's that.
http://cfn.scout.com/2/1441290.html
I think Michigan surprises everyone, improves from last week, and blows ND's house down in epic fashion thanks to Touchdown Neezus!
It won't even be that close.
Michigan 37, Notre Dame 20
September 4th, 2014 at 6:53 PM ^
My God, you've been here since 2008 and don't know that "Notre Stain" just isn't going to be received well?
Edit: Smart move.
September 4th, 2014 at 6:57 PM ^
I don't know what to say. Notre stain!?! I think I might up-vote you because I like to root for the underdog or the misunderstood intellectual.
Edit: Nice flip flop
September 4th, 2014 at 6:57 PM ^
can't really see ND scoring 31 pts on our Defense unless we turn the ball over A LOT
September 4th, 2014 at 6:58 PM ^
September 4th, 2014 at 7:04 PM ^
Irish are more dangerous with Golson in place of Rees, but Michigan's defense should be equally more dangerous than last year. Overall agree that 31 points shouldn't be sniffed by Notre Dame.
September 4th, 2014 at 7:09 PM ^
September 4th, 2014 at 7:15 PM ^
Golson got benched after Raymon picked him off on the first drive, and i believe he tossed another INT before they benched him
September 4th, 2014 at 7:24 PM ^
Wasn't that the game where Rees didn't come in until the last quarter?
September 4th, 2014 at 8:03 PM ^
no Rees came in i think at the end of the first quarter or after the first couple drives i think
September 4th, 2014 at 7:34 PM ^
Yup, IIRC Golson threw 2 bad picks in that game. One in the endzone to JT Floyd I think
September 4th, 2014 at 7:20 PM ^
Because two years ago at South Bend in the year of their NC berth, he was so effective against Michigan. Granted, he has been going to camp in his off-time during his own academic suspension, and he is a mobile threat for which Michigan historically has found few answers, but is he that improved a passer that given UM's fresh-agression style that he will suddenly become a cerebral star as well as an athlete with passing skills? I'm guessing, not.
I'm willing to bet regression to the mean on everything and the defense meets him in the middle. And Michigan walks away a big winner.
September 4th, 2014 at 6:59 PM ^
Edit: I can't read
September 4th, 2014 at 6:59 PM ^
Nice edit.
September 4th, 2014 at 7:06 PM ^
we are in trouble.
September 4th, 2014 at 7:12 PM ^
I don't think so. We scored 40+ last year (at home) with a similar OL.
Look both Golson and Gardner have the ability to go crazy in any 1 game. They have major variability - one week they can be meh and the next oh wow. Who knows which shows up next week. ND defense is not something to be feared - it just isn't.
- 2 of their 4 staring DBs are suspended/hurt
- Their corners are 5'9, 5'11
- They start 2 sophomores at LB
- Their rotation of DEs are JR, FR, FR, SO
- They have very good DTs
That is not a scary defense. We will score. And until I see us shut down good offenses I am going to say they will score on us. I do think our DBs are going to better than last year but I didnt see much pass rush against a pretty mediocre OL last week. And in many ways Beyer and Clark need to be disciplined because keeping Golson contained is half the battle so I am not sure if we are going to get much rush this week either.
I am expecting a high scoring game with an O/U around 60. I can see both these teams marching down the field on each other. I like UM's defense on paper and if they hold ND to 14 or 17 I will think they are the real deal. But we need Jake Ryan being Jake Ryan, and we need our DL to deliver. Unti then I expect a mobile QB to cause the normal havoc. But we have one too - and its againt a ho hum defense.
September 4th, 2014 at 7:19 PM ^
you didn't see much pass rush last wk? What game were you watching.. We drove their OL back every play.. if our starters stayed in the whole game they prob would of struggled to get over 150 yards of total offense
September 4th, 2014 at 8:03 PM ^
Let me reword it - "we didn't get to the QB as much as you'd expected for a very overmatched team". There was one drive I remember Wormley and Charlton back to back... and I remember Henry in on another play. But by and large I didn't feel like the DL overwhelmed their OL. Now that could be because they tried to dump the ball off very quickly.
TFL and sacks were not super duper outside of 1 drive.
Unlike an uninspiring defense it does seem ND's OL is pretty sufficient. So we'll see if we can bring pressure this game. I don't think its in the bag as many presume we will.... at least with just 4. And bringing more than 4 opens Golson up for him allowing passes and run lanes.
Also can people stop looking at Golson in his 2nd game of his career and thinking the same guy is going to show up on Saturday? Thats like saying Braxton Miller of 2013 is going to suck being hey when we played Braxton Miller in 2011 he sucked. Guys generally progress as they get older. Especially QB guys. His 2nd game of his career is going to mean nothing on Saturday. I doubt he has anywhere near the day he had versus Rice but he also won't be the same guy who was facing his first real defense from 2 years ago.
September 4th, 2014 at 8:07 PM ^
Frank clark also sacked the QB and someone else did early in the game, but i guess i don't understand anymore what they classify as a "sack"
Everytime the QB got hit without scrambling or leaving the pocket they didn't count it as a sack.
I counted Wormley, Charlton, Frank clark all hit the QB while he was in the pocket and before he threw the ball. Then yes henry and hurst both hit the qb as well after he got rid of the ball and frank clark also completely lit up the QB on that throw in the first half where he threw it to no one downfield. Not sure what quarter.
The defense as a whole looked so much better, but i was really unimpressed with our LB for most of the game
September 4th, 2014 at 7:06 PM ^
September 4th, 2014 at 8:50 PM ^
September 4th, 2014 at 8:56 PM ^
September 4th, 2014 at 9:55 PM ^
September 5th, 2014 at 8:46 AM ^
I like money.
September 4th, 2014 at 7:09 PM ^
Michigan 50, ND 48 in four overtimes. It becomes an "instant classic" and Michigan cracks the top 15.
September 4th, 2014 at 8:29 PM ^
I can't take the stress, but given how these games have gone, you are probably right.
September 5th, 2014 at 8:47 AM ^
I'd prefer 38-17. I want to spend the night cackling at the Fig Things.
September 4th, 2014 at 7:22 PM ^
ND - 24
Yes.
September 4th, 2014 at 7:26 PM ^
September 4th, 2014 at 7:31 PM ^
Michigan 38
ND 10
September 4th, 2014 at 7:55 PM ^
September 4th, 2014 at 8:06 PM ^
Defense will be huge in this one. I have no doubt our O can/will put up points against ND. If our D can hold ND to 20 points or less, I feel very confident that we leave South Bend with the win. If not, it will be a stressful night. That said,
UMich: 27, ND: 17
September 4th, 2014 at 8:51 PM ^
Idk... Hoke has yet to prove to me that he can win big road games. Until then, I can't predict anything better than 20-17 Michigan, even though I want to think this will be a blowout in Michigan's favor.
September 4th, 2014 at 9:37 PM ^
September 4th, 2014 at 10:09 PM ^
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September 4th, 2014 at 10:15 PM ^
Anyone who picks Michigan to win automatically goes into my list of brilliant prognosticators.
September 4th, 2014 at 10:46 PM ^
September 5th, 2014 at 1:19 AM ^
It will be... except for the aftermath
I don't expect to be shaking hands with Lee Bollinger in his living room after the game.
Maybe the new prez?
September 4th, 2014 at 11:52 PM ^
Golson will make some plays, Funchess will go apeshit on a makeshift ND secondary, but this game is going to be close whether we like it or not. Both teams want to have the last laugh, but we've taken 6 of the last 8 from these guys. Hell, why not make it 7 of 9?
35-28 good guys.
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