Predictions for Notre Dame

For some odd reason, I really feel as though we will win pretty comfortably.

Am I alone in this thought? - Sort of reminds me of '06 for some reason.

Prediction:

UM - 38

ND - 17

Plus a big day for Funchess.

on Irish Envy were crazy with their predictions but I see some here that, IMHO, are just as crazy.

I don't see how anyone could think we'd win this game by 10 points or more. History just doesn't point to that. Year in and year out it's a knock down drag out game. Only a couple have been blowouts and those were when ND sucked.

I'm going to say 27-23 Michigan.

We'll score on our last possession to win the game. (Except when ND gets the ball back and throws hail marys and we intercept.)

GO BLUE!!!!!

**** Notre Dame!

Part of me wants to predict a victory, but I'm still nervous about the running game until I see it proven against a little better defense.  I'd be surprised if they let Funchess have the kind of game he did last week.  Can other recievers step up?  Can UM shut down their offense?  I know they are going to be down some players, but Golson put up decent numbers last week and it's a night game on the road.  I think both lines need to step up for UM to win.  Hopefully Glasgow and Kalis play the whole game on offense and Henry and Wormley get the nod in the middle.  I think I'm still giving a slight edge to the home team in a night game.  I would trade a win against MSU or OSU over ND any day and I don't see UM winning all three.

so that people will shut up a little bit about Hoke and Michigan not winning on the road. ND is a team that Michigan should be able to beat on the road without too much of a herculean effort.

I think ND will play tough though. It's going to be very different from last year's win. Golson will MAKE PLAYS and Michigan comes out flat to an early deficit, say, 10-14 points (the OL will be a headache in the 1st half I bet, road jitters get them to revert to last year's self)...but the defense figures Golson out by the 2nd half and the offense becomes competent and Gardner (being the 5th year senior he is) makes some great plays in the 4th quarter en route to a comeback victory. In the "guess the score" thread I predicted 30-28, Michigan, meaning Michigan gets a late TD or FG to win it. 

Haven't heard anyone mention the 2013 NC game yet.

Compared to that game, which ended 42-14, ND's defense is worse all around and Nussmeier's offense is worse in the OL, better at QB and #1 WR, same-ish everywhere else according to this guy. It will be an interesting game.

I think our inexperience on OL is going to hurt us in the 2nd half. Hoke and Nuss will have some early tricks to mitigate our OL play, but I think ND figures this out in the 2nd half.

I also think that ND will dink and dunk us all day and will break 2-3 long runs because of poor DL play.

I think M jumps out early 14-0, but ND wins 28-21.

We jump out to an early lead and hold it with a balanced attack - say, two scores -  get Golson to throw upfield (presumably not their strong suit b/o limited skill at WR) and make poor decisions.  IIRC, Golson was shitting the bed in '12 before Grimace cut the cord and went to his facilitator.

This is my hope and not prediction.  I also hope our handsome, visor-wearing star OC has a few counters off that quick screen DG has been slinging to Funch for the past few games.  #1 can't hurdle fools forever.

I think our OL passes this first test against real competition. 98 has time to throw and Norfleet has a big game. Smith and 27 combine for 150 yds rushing. Our pressure D forces Golson to commit 2 turnovers.

This game starts slow but heats up in the second half.  4th Quarter feels like a shoot-out.  Michigan wins 41-27 due to a late ND turnover.

Nuss >>>Borges, = comfortable victory against a depleted team. Devin, doesn't have to make hero plays, and the "new" defense is confusing enough to Make ND turn it over a few times.

48-24

I expect the Irish will show quite early that they are not Ap State.  Given our historic weakness defending mobile QBs, and the fact our LBs are still finding their way in the new defense, I expect ND to burn us a couple of times in the first half.  On the other side of the ball, I expect that ND watched the Ap State tape, and will do what is necessary to shut down Funchess.  Since I also expect ND's front 7 to pose more of a challenge, I'm guessing our Wolverines will need an offense series or two or three to figure out where the weaknesses are in ND's defense.  Big plays/lucky breaks will dictate who has the edge at the half, but I'm guessing the Irish have a 3-7 point lead at halftime.

I have way more confidence in our new and improved coaching staff (i.e. Nuss vs. Borges) to make the correct adjustments at halftime.  As many have pointed out, ND is short-handed in the secondary, who have to guard our most talented and our deepest unit, the pass receivers.  With all of that and a 5th year Sr playing QB, I expect the offense to find the receivers who will make ND pay for taking Funchess away.  I also expect the Michigan D to slow down the Irish O enough for Michigan to overtake in the 4th quarter.  Again, a big edge in special teams or turnovers will decide the game, but assuming neither side has a clear advantage, I think Michigan wins by 7 or less.

I do not know if it will be low-scoring or high-scoring.  It's too early in the season to predict the factors that determine the level of scoring, but I do expect it to be close.

What would make it a blow-out?  For Michigan, a quick 7+ lead in the first quarter.  If Michigan can put the ND defense on roller skates early, ND does not have the talent or depth to do the total shut-down job the Irish offense would need to catch-up.  For Notre Dame, exploit Michigan's green offensive line such that the rest of the offense has no opportunity to show-off its talents.  Regardless of the score, if the ND defense owns the line of scrimmage early and often, Michigan has a problem.

BTW, Michigan an underdog by more than 3 points?!  Do they have whiskey rather than water running in the taps at Vegas?  ND as shorthanded as they are favored by more than the usual 3 points for being at home?  That's just crazy!

This is the first ND game I have not been worried about in a very long time.  I think we are going to be a very good team this year.  While I think we will beat ND on Saturday, I don't think it will mean much to our ullimtate success this year if we don't..  Either way, we will win many more games that most people thought this year, will not make it to the playoff, and will probably end up playing for the Big10 championship in December.  Book it. 

Oh yeah . . .  my prediction:  UM 24 -- ND 21

until i see that everyone is feelng good, now i am scared 

14-10 UM at the half.

31-17 UM final.

Lou Holtz goes full retard on college football final, then throws helmet at May for awarding helmet sticker to a UM player instead of Golson.

...BUT...

The last time we were there, we literally handed them the game, and it was still very close at the end -- and that was the team that went to the NC game.

I expect a nail-biter that could go either way.

I'm gonna say that the final score will be this:

Michigan - 28

Notre Dame- 27

I truly believe we will enjoy a comfortable win, something like 42-17. Here's why:

- The Devins will play well, and the attention paid to Funch via double teams will benefit other receivers as well as the running backs. Gardner's confidence level is much improved.

- Nuss is a player developer and winner. His offensive scheme for the game will fit his personnel well. Repetition will mean a lot to the O-line, and they'll get better with each game. And we won't see absurdly stubborn play calls, he'll call plays that have a chance of actually working depending on what the defense gives him.

- Mattison wouldn't have his defense playing tight man coverage if he didn't think they were capable of doing it well. The defense is more seasoned than last year. The added confidence will help. The addition of Peppers adds speed to the defense on critical downs; Golson will do his thing to a degree, but won't have our defense on its heels too often.

- I don't see ND as a truly improved team over last year, except at QB. That's an important position, but Golson can't win the game by himself. And DG is every bit as good.

Michigan has a hard time stopping QB Everett Golson on the ground in this game. He'll have close to 90+ yards rushing, but UM frustrates his passing all game long with Okey blitz pressure and exemplary secondary play, despite a shit-ton of pass interference calls by the refs that give away 1st downs.

Rice had 367 total yards vs. Notre Dame last week, 226 through the air.  Michigan is going to move the ball on the Irish with impunity via ground and air, and score a lot of points. The running game will struggle at times, but Irish will have no answer for Nussmeier's counters.

Michigan jumps out to a significant lead early with Funchess TDs and keeps it all game long. Special teams play, i.e. Punt return for TD or a blocked punt for TD seals the deal for Michigan.

Michigan 37, Notre Dame 20

ND's D is suspect even if the possibly suspended players can play. I still think Golson is a poor passer and if forced to stay in the pocket will fail. I think our D will mix up the pressure and create atleast two turnovers. Our Offensive line will hold up well and we will score more then enough.

Michigan 31 - Notre Dame 17

ND field goal in garbage time.

Wild and wacky game that ends in a score of 3-2 for ND.  Michigan carries a safety into the final 10 seconds when ND kicks a FG to seal the deal.  Blue hairs rejoice the return to "proper scoreing"  And no one yells "get off my lawn".