Oct 20 | BYU

[GowerND11]

On my way out from Pennsylvania as I type this. At a rest stop in Ohio. Can't wait to be in South Bend. Been four years too long. Go Irish!

 

[NDdomer2]

Notre Dame prediction: Week 8 vs. BYU - College Football Nation Blog - ESPN

The battle of independent powers takes place Saturday in South Bend. Who emerges victorious?

When BYU has the ball: Quarterback Riley Nelson looks to be fully recovered after missing two games earlier this season with a back injury. He threw for 305 yards to go with one touchdown and three picks last week in a loss to Oregon State, and he connected with the 6-foot-4 Cody Hoffman 10 times for 102 yards. Keep an eye on that duo when the Cougars are on offense, but the question, as always, will be whether Notre Dame's pass rush can disrupt the rhythm. Or, in the case of this week's game, how much it can: BYU has started seven interior offensive linemen so far.

When Notre Dame has the ball: Quarterback Everett Golson (concussion) was cleared to return to practice Wednesday, and he will try to put the turnover bug behind him and build off his strong second half against Stanford. Like last week, he is facing a very strong defense that is looking for a bounce-back performance. The Cougars boast the No. 7 scoring defense in the country, led by linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who has 7.5 sacks through seven games. The Cougars have 22 sacks, and they will look to pressure Golson into mistakes one week after he fumbled it away three times.

Intangible: It's a trap! Or is it? Notre Dame just beat then-No. 17 Stanford. It travels to No. 9 Oklahoma next week. The Cougars come to town in between the two games, with the No. 5 Irish looking to avoid the fates of Florida State, West Virginia and the likes and not lose to an underdog. Fall break was this week too, so the players did not have to worry about classwork, though whether that means they're as locked in throughout the day as usual is for a professional psychologist to determine.

Prediction: Notre Dame 24, BYU 6. Call me a flip-flopper. I circled this one as a loss (one of four I predicted back in the summer, for those keeping track), but I just don't see it happening with the way the Irish have been playing so far.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Still some tickets left on the ND website. Just bought some and will be going up Saturday morning.

Jimmymac, If I see you again I will say hello this time.

 

[jimmymac]

Still some tickets left on the ND website. Just bought some and will be going up Saturday morning.

Jimmymac, If I see you again I will say hello this time.

Sounds good haha. Ill be at the player walk again for sure

 

[RDU Irish]

WTF with tickets available through the box office three days before kickoff? We are undefeated halfway through the freaking season and ranked #5 in the country?

smh

 

[clashmore_mike]

WTF with tickets available through the box office three days before kickoff? We are undefeated halfway through the freaking season and ranked #5 in the country?

smh

BYU returned some of their allotment, happens every week.

 

[NDHoosier101]

I got my hands on some tickets as well, first Irish game of the season I'll be headed to can't wait!

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Heading up Saturday morning as well. Can't wait.

I too thought this game would be tough, but ND is playing too good defensively and I believe we'll make enough plays on offense to win the game. ND is a 13.5 point favorite, I'll take it. Over/Under set at 40, I'll take the under w/ these two defensive teams.

Go Irish! Beat Cougars! 24-6 is my prediction.

 

[Chris P. Bacon]

Headin up there too Saturday, game should be exciting, though may be tough to match the excitement at the ND vs MICH game I went to earlier this year.

Agreed on the posts above, our D will continue improving, this may not be the test that Stanford, OKLA, USC may be, but this game should help keep our defense battle tested before the OKLA game. I honestly think too, the way Stanford blitz the sh1t out of us, the adjustments to that during the week, will make BYU's defense a walk in the park. Yes BYU has looked solid on D, and their numbers show it too, but the competition on the other side of the ball may not quite be in the same field of what we've faced. Again, nothing against the BYU D, but I find it hard to believe they are anywhere near as talented as Stanford’s. This should help Mr.#85 Troy help on his technique on blocking, which I think once he has a few more games under his belt, and his technique increases, he's going to be another pulling Tackle coming around the corner.

I think Golson comes out and does what he did against Miami, and lights things up. My feeling, he may be a little weary that his turnovers from last week could have caused his the Irish to lose, luckily that wasn't the case but I think you see a huge improvement this weekend with ball security and Golson. I mean the first couple weeks of the season he was great at throwing the ball out of bounds when nothing was there, running out of bounds and avoiding the hit. I think BK shows him a few clips from earlier in the year of those things, and the light goes back on again for EG. I'm expecting a bigger win than most expect. It's my opinion, and damnit, I'm allowed to have one.

 

[clashmore_mike]

I'll be at the game with 6 friends from all over the place. Picking up a couple of friends from Jacksonville and Washington DC tomorrow night in Detroit, then heading home to meet up with a friend driving up from Columbus and one from Auburn, AL. Friend from Auburn is a BYU grad and is pretty excited to cross a visit to Notre Dame off of his sports bucket list. Another of our friends will meet us in South Bend Saturday morning from Chicago. Should be a great time seeing everyone and watching another big win.

 

[calvegas04]

flying out tonight, will be in South Bend tomorrow, will be my GF's first time at ND

 

[dshans]

flying out tonight, will be in South Bend tomorrow, will be my GF's first time at ND

Be loud. Be proud. Be awed. Be respectful of the school, its history, the campus and the rival fans.

Be happy and represent well.

 

[jakerbluegold]

I'll be there with 3 others, two of which will have the first ND experience.

 

[Emcee77]

So Kelly said tonight that Golson may not start on Saturday. He's practicing, but the starter will be a gameday decision.

Weird. Is Kelly playing games with BYU? Maybe he wants them to have to prepare for Tommy and Everett?

 

[BGIF]

So Kelly said tonight that Golson may not start on Saturday. He's practicing, but the starter will be a gameday decision.

Weird. Is Kelly playing games with BYU? Maybe he wants them to have to prepare for Tommy and Everett?

Could be playing with BYU but more likely being realistic. Being cautious considering the nature of the injury.

I'd love to see Golson pass for 300 yds connecting on the long ball to Brown or Neal, finding the open men of the field when Eifert is doubled, or realizing Eifert is in signle coverage when the Cougars blitz. I'd prefer he make the right reads and didn't run at all. Let his noggin go without another joggin'.

 

[tadman95]

Read that Golson was a little off today in practice, now quite himself.

 

[irishfan]

Not good. We could be in trouble if he has to sit out this week then get ready for OU.

 

[Colts baby!]

I have two tickets for the BYU game.

 

[tko]

Damn, not really sure what people are freaking out about. We are going to straight throttle BYU. Their offense will be entering a world of pain. Mark it zero Cougars! Also, that defense hasn't seen the likes of cierre wood, theo riddick, GA III, Toma, Eifert, and on down the line. Lay the points boys.

 

[tadman95]

Put Golson in the booth with Martin, let him see the game form a different view. Martin can school him there. Then we have Coach Golson on the field next week.

Rees/Hendrix have this.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Put Golson in the booth with Martin, let him see the game form a different view. Martin can school him there. Then we have Coach Golson on the field next week.

 

[irishog77]

Could be playing with BYU but more likely being realistic. Being cautious considering the nature of the injury.

I'd love to see Golson pass for 300 yds connecting on the long ball to Brown or Neal, finding the open men of the field when Eifert is doubled, or realizing Eifert is in signle coverage when the Cougars blitz. I'd prefer he make the right reads and didn't run at all. Let his noggin go without another joggin'.

I speak from personal experience-- this can be ferocious!

 

[OhioIrishFan]

On my way from North Central Ohio in about six hours! Can't wait. Will be there all weekend for the usual festivities (pep rally, player walk, trumpets, etc.)

 

[tko]

Blitz all you want Cougars b/c Tommy will pick you apart.

 

[dublinirish]

Look out for BYU's RB Alisa, love watching this guy play, will be fun to see him go up against Manti

 

[Me2SouthBend]

Good stuff from that guy.

Pregame Six Pack: Bring on BYU | Inside the Irish

 

[ScrantonNDfan]

Alisa is out with a broken arm.

 

[dublinirish]

my bad, thats a real pity, hes shares the same hometown of Laie, with Manti and it would have been fun to see them clash. BYU got nothing on offense left from what i see..perhaps a few deep balls to Hoffman but thats about it

 

[Black Irish]

my bad, thats a real pity, hes shares the same hometown of Laie, with Manti and it would have been fun to see them clash. BYU got nothing on offense left from what i see..perhaps a few deep balls to Hoffman but thats about it

Our DBs need to stay awake, then.

 

[arrowryan]

Still some tickets left on the ND website. Just bought some and will be going up Saturday morning.

Jimmymac, If I see you again I will say hello this time.

Jimmy, I saw you too last Saturday. It was right after College Gameday ended and we walked right past each other. I knew it was you only because of your big Dumb and Dumber sign haha