September 10th, 2011 at 12:37 PM ^
Denard 180 yards rushing and breaks two long TD runs,
September 10th, 2011 at 12:56 PM ^
Denard will lead us in rushing today. I agree with you there. I have Michigan 31 Notre dame 28.
September 10th, 2011 at 1:00 PM ^
Michigan wins by unanimous decision...or by TKO in the 6th round
September 10th, 2011 at 12:40 PM ^
I think Hoke's staff will be like Carr's and be a strong second half team. I think we'll go in down at half, but put a different defensive gameplan together to rally back in the second half.
Michigan wins 31-27
Safest prediction of the day? Erin Andrews will be the hotest chick in the stadium.
September 10th, 2011 at 1:46 PM ^
How do you know Mrs. Kass won't be there?
September 10th, 2011 at 12:43 PM ^
Toussaint will score twice,
The Irish will rally late,
but M wins by 1.
September 10th, 2011 at 2:47 PM ^
I'm also looking for M in a squeaker. This year Gibbons actually wins us a game on a late field goal. Also, if the field gets soggy I like Fitz or Hopkins to get down in that mud and get us some offense, as that same soggy field that slows down Michael Floyd slows down Denard.
September 10th, 2011 at 2:55 PM ^
23-21 with shoelace running it in from the 44 to win it, so it must be right...
seriously though, MEEECHIGAN 34 notre dame 28
September 10th, 2011 at 2:56 PM ^
You do realize that Michigan Stadium has fieldturf and there will be no mud, right?
September 10th, 2011 at 3:02 PM ^
Totally forgot that. Or maybe I should say blocked it out of my mind. There is something wrong with artificial turf in the Big Ten. Leave that stuff to the Pac 10 or SEC, we play real football . . .
I guess my prediction changes a little. Instead of mud slowing down Floyd, we let a live wolverine into the vistors' locker room. That'll settle his hash . . .
September 10th, 2011 at 12:44 PM ^
Michigan 33 notre dame 30
September 10th, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^
The Irish are better than what they showed last week, but so is Michigan. If this game were in South Bend, I would take ND, but it's in Ann Arbor, so I'll take Michigan 28-17.
September 10th, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^
777-7 Michigan!
September 10th, 2011 at 12:49 PM ^
UM 32 ND 30. These games are always close, but ND is still smarting from USF. Floyd should have a big game, but Denard is still trouble for an ND defense that is designed to stop more classic Big-10 offenses than the one UM trots out. I actually think Roundtree and Hemingway will have big games, bigger than Denard, as ND's backfield looks mediocre and (I suspect) that ND will pull a safety into the box to slow down UM's running game. That will leave the receivers with a sparse defensive backfield to run past.
September 10th, 2011 at 12:49 PM ^
September 10th, 2011 at 12:56 PM ^
35-24 Michigan
September 10th, 2011 at 12:56 PM ^
Ditka coaching?
September 10th, 2011 at 12:59 PM ^
31-28. I agree with the guy above. We got 1 for 2 in field goals
September 10th, 2011 at 1:01 PM ^
September 10th, 2011 at 1:14 PM ^
That was so adorable.
September 10th, 2011 at 1:02 PM ^
30- 24 Michigan, Blue , VICTORS!
September 10th, 2011 at 1:08 PM ^
With Martin banged up, we don't get any consistent pressure with our DL. With Troy banged up, we can't control Floyd. With Fitz banged up, we'll have to rely on a far-from-durable Shaw. With inexperienced and/or inconsistent kickers, we'll have trouble in the kicking game.
Plus we're swimming against history... since the rivalry renewed in '78, we've never won three in a row against ND.
And most critically, the ND players are petrified that Brian Kelly's head will actually explode Scanners-style if they don't play well. They don't want to get brain all over themselves.
September 10th, 2011 at 1:10 PM ^
To be fair, with Crist's soul banged up, ND has to rely on redshirt sophomore Rees to play against a defense actually trying to stop him. And I didn't think Martin was as hurt as originally suspected - I mean, he's banged up, but not like the high-ankle sprain he had last year. Could be wrong.
September 10th, 2011 at 1:22 PM ^
September 10th, 2011 at 1:26 PM ^
I didn't think they were banged up.
Although, I agree that it will be difficult for UM to take three in a row from ND, with all the circumstances surrounding the game.
September 10th, 2011 at 1:52 PM ^
Hoke said yesterday in the Karsch (spelling?) interview that Fitz was a little nicked up. I've seen a couple of people on the blog say that Martin is banged up (I'm guessing that Don is going on what Brian said yesterday), but no one has ever provided a link or even a statement that they know a guy who knows a guy.
September 10th, 2011 at 1:58 PM ^
Correct. IIRC, Brian was basing that on something Hoke said in a presser. Who knows how truly banged up Martin, Troy, or Fitz really are, but if any one of them is, it sucks. We need our best players on D to be healthy, and we need an explosive RB who can get tough yards inside to take some of the heat off of Denard.
September 10th, 2011 at 2:02 PM ^
Hoke didn't say anything about Martin yesterday, but I guess we'll find out tonight. Agree w/ you re: needing everyone healthy. I also agree with your general take on the game. I hope we're wrong, needless to say.
September 10th, 2011 at 1:42 PM ^
got anything positive to say?
September 10th, 2011 at 1:06 PM ^
31-27 Michigan. Go Blue!
September 10th, 2011 at 1:06 PM ^
...howevea,the good guys win 28-24.
September 10th, 2011 at 1:11 PM ^
ND 35, Michigan 28.
September 10th, 2011 at 8:17 PM ^
Hate to say it, but I see 31-17 ND Ouch.
September 10th, 2011 at 1:15 PM ^
Michigan 34 Notre Dame 24. Michigan will play like dogs today.
September 10th, 2011 at 1:40 PM ^
We're gonna stop and eat our own poop?
PS: UM 28 ND 27
September 10th, 2011 at 1:26 PM ^
37-31 MEEEECHIGAN
September 10th, 2011 at 1:34 PM ^
45-21 Michigan We have 750 yards of offense with 450 rushing.
September 10th, 2011 at 1:38 PM ^
as long as Michigan has more points up on both the HD scoreboards than ND does at the end of the night.
JUST WIN BABY
September 10th, 2011 at 1:41 PM ^
i try not to be a homer, but i really cannot see Michigan losing this game! First night game, a crazy crowd, the adrenaline's gonna be pumpin' in our guys! I feel like our defensive line will look much better early in the game and be more consistent, and the cooler weather will allow less substitution along the line. (ie: Brennan Beyer) The key to the game is rattling Rees/Crist early and often, which will hinder Floyd from taking over the game. It's close though, Denard feeds off the crowd in the fourth quarter, and leads a game-winning drive. Michigan 27, Notre Dame 24.
September 10th, 2011 at 7:26 PM ^
Anyone know where I can find a decent quality stream of the game?
September 10th, 2011 at 1:41 PM ^
<iframe width="420" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MIJJMa3y0ek" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
September 10th, 2011 at 2:00 PM ^
ND: 45 - Michigan: 24
Michgain struggled to stop WMU's offense and often looked confused. ND's offense uses similar concepts to WMU's but employs them with much better players. ND put up 500 yards on USF, and I think that USF's defense is better than Michigan's (or at least more suited to play ND).
Michigan will try a power running game against ND only to find that ND pushes back a lot harder than WMU does. Michigan will have to resort to passing the ball in obvious situations, and Denard is not ready to lead the team on third and long plays.
Michigan will give up long kick returns. ND will not have a similar chink in its special teams armor.
September 10th, 2011 at 2:18 PM ^
God do I hope i'm wrong, but i'm still not sold that our defense can stop anyone.
September 10th, 2011 at 2:23 PM ^
Michigan
September 10th, 2011 at 2:38 PM ^
So my Prediction is drunkenness
September 10th, 2011 at 2:53 PM ^
says Michigan wins 23-21 with Denard breaking off a 44 yd run to win the game, so that must be right...
Seriously though, MEEECHIGAN 34 notre dame 28
September 10th, 2011 at 3:53 PM ^
Notre Dame 31. Michigan 20.....unfortunately. This is under the assumption ND will force Denard to beat them with his arm.
September 10th, 2011 at 3:59 PM ^
35-31 M...ND gets the ball with less than 3 minutes to go and drives down the field but and then rees chucks up one for floyd in the red zone....and woolfolk comes down with it to seal the win
September 10th, 2011 at 6:40 PM ^
You expecting him to catch it between his teeth or something?