The way too early 2013 prediction thread

[drayer54]

Sooners may be tougher than the Trees.

They generally reload well.

Don't forget that awesome ND ability to blow the game they shouldn't have.

 

[RDU Irish]

Defense will continue to scare people with Nix, Tuitt and Shembo one year better, Day becoming a force and Jarron Jones provided top notch depth. If Vanderdoes joins the class our D-line looks dramatically better than the dominant force of this year, largely from guys getting one year older, but Vanderdoes would make it six NFL talents rotating in.

Hopefully Ishaq starts living up to 5* status as a junior, really has not been much of an impact player yet, seems something needs to click. That is the type of thing that makes me hesitant to call on incoming freshman to save our bacon.

Losing Motta in the secondary is huge but I think the year of maturation for Russell, Jackson and Farley make a very good core to build on. Add star power with Redfield and Luke and the chance for some of the young depth to make big strides (Lo Wood, Shumate, Baratti, Atkinson, Prosise...) and you have the makings for a nice unit. Deep and talented but young.

O-Line has depth issues and needs to buy time for the incoming class to mature. Stanley as a sophomore plus Martin and Watt returning are a great start. The question is if we have three or four more guys to bring their game to the same level and lock it down early enough to develop good cohesiveness.

RB will be better with a junior GAIII and Carlisle providing flash and Mahone providing power. Add a freshman 5* and this looks like an improvement over a very good 2012 stable.

WR will continue to mature. TJ is good, Daniels is progressing to great, CBreezy has incredible potential. Ferguson and Neal will be a year older and ready to contribute while one of the freshmen is sure to be ready to contribute as well. Overall much better than this year.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

9-3...prove me wrong team!

 

[Buster Bluth]

I think the offense is set to take off in 2013, Golson will throw for 3300 yards as the offense moves towards more speed running and passing.

This is how I see it, it terms of the likelihood of victory.

vs Temple - 99% - It's Temple.
at Michigan - 75% - They won't be as good as they were this year, Notre Dame will be better. The home advantage is something though.
at Purdue - 90% - It's Purdue.
vs Michigan State - 85% - They lost a ton and their offense is horribly one-dimensional.
vs Oklahoma - 55% - Biggest home game of the year.
vs* Arizona State - 65% - I'm buying ASU in 2013.
BYE
vs Southern Cal - 65% - USC doesn't scare me anymore. Did Woods declare?
at Air Force - 90% - Air Force isn't what they once were.
vs Navy - 90% - Navy doesn't scare me anymore.
at Pittsburgh - 90% - They lose a lot. Rebuilding season.
BYE
vs BYU - 750% - I imagine that BYU will be better. Tough game.
at Stanford - 50% - A serious national title contender. Oregon will probably have defeated them at this point.

 

[BurningRiver]

I think at this point there's going to be a BCS-or-bust mentality for the foreseeable future, and I'm fine with that

 

[drayer54]

I'm way more bullish on ASU and the Cardinal.

 

[ND NYC]

After that game, i'm worried about our O-line...
who's gonna step in??
with that said, if this class holds together, 2015 should be terrifying to our opponents.

bill s king was saying this week that next years o-line starting line/first crack at 2013 should look like this:

Z Martin N Martin Watt Hanratty Lombard
LT LG C RG RT

i think he had lou somogyi on from blue and gold...lou said he had talke to heistand who felt he wanted ot have inexperience (n martin and hanratty) sandwiched between experience all across the front 5.

 

[notredomer23]

I think the offense is set to take off in 2013, Golson will throw for 3300 yards as the offense moves towards more speed running and passing.

This is how I see it, it terms of the likelihood of victory.

vs Temple - 99% - It's Temple.
at Michigan - 75% - They won't be as good as they were this year, Notre Dame will be better. The home advantage is something though.
at Purdue - 90% - It's Purdue.
vs Michigan State - 85% - They lost a ton and their offense is horribly one-dimensional.
vs Oklahoma - 55% - Biggest home game of the year.
vs* Arizona State - 65% - I'm buying ASU in 2013.
BYE
vs Southern Cal - 65% - USC doesn't scare me anymore. Did Woods declare?
at Air Force - 90% - Air Force isn't what they once were.
vs Navy - 90% - Navy doesn't scare me anymore.
at Pittsburgh - 90% - They lose a lot. Rebuilding season.
BYE
vs BYU - 750% - I imagine that BYU will be better. Tough game.
at Stanford - 50% - A serious national title contender. Oregon will probably have defeated them at this point.

Woods did declare. I think our 3 games vs the Pac 12 will decide our season. If we lose any, it will come from those games IMO

 

[IrishInFl]

It will all come down to us and Stanford. Both teams may be undefeated at that point.

 

[IrishLax]

I think we beat Navy/Air Force far more often than 9 times out of 10. I'd put both of them up in the 99% category with Temple.

Also, I hope people realize that even without Woods they have George Farmer (5) and Nelson Agholor (5/4) just waiting in the wings to step into a bigger role. If USC somehow gets a defense and their QB situation works itself out they could be pretty dangerous...

....or they could totally go 6-6 and suck because Lane Kiffin is the worst head coach in CFB. I'm inclined to think the latter, but you never know.

 

[ND NYC]

some rambling/top of my head thoughts on next year:

i am watching for Kiel to make a move on Golson. this job isnt just getting handed to Golson.

what 2 RBs will step up and step in? it is wide open. i think we are in for a surpise here.

i still cant figure out what the long range plan is for GA3.

will Ishaq begin to live up to the hype??

Sheldon Day will be biggest positive surprise on the defense all year.

Neal replacing Toma at the X (or is it y may help the entire offense especially the WR corps.

TE could go from being one of the least worrisone/best position groups...to our biggest offensive concern next year.

what freshman besides jaylon will contribute?

will the entire staff remain intact?

slaughter to return?

can lo wood come back from his achilles?

 

[STLDomer]

Stealing Buster's format cause it's easy and I mostly agree w/ his post.

vs Temple - 99%
at Michigan - 75%
at Purdue - 90%
vs Michigan State - 85%
vs Oklahoma - 60%
vs* Arizona State -60% TRAP GAME
BYE
vs Southern Cal - 65%
at Air Force - 99%
vs Navy - 99%
at Pittsburgh - 90%
BYE
vs BYU - 70%
at Stanford - 45%

I think Golson is in the Heisman conversation past mid-season (Top 10 but not even close to the group that goes to NYC)

There will not be a concrete starting RB but Greg Bryant will get ~15 touches a game and Amir Carlisle will be a boss.

TJ Jones and Davaris Daniels will be one of the top WR duos.

O-Line will be just as good as 2012.

The Front Seven will appear to not miss a beat from last years

A CAT will move to DE

Jaylon will play DOG, CAT, and maybe even the Nickel position by the end of the year in a effort to get him PT.

Secondary will be better than last year.

Defense will give up more points but less yards.

 

[CraigKrenzel]

I was under the impression that Welch was the #2 guy before going down with an injury -- is the injury worse than I thought? People seem to keep talking about Niklas and Koyack as our two options.

In the same vein, Carlisle and Prosise have been a little overlooked it seems. Thinking there are a handful of guys that haven't broken the two-deep who will surprise us with how much play they get next year. I'm excited to see what Grace can do.

Also: We could have been 8-4 this year, and last year we could have been 10-2. I guess it goes without saying, but until our offense improves, the games (and our BCS hopes) will remain yearly tossups. That said, I can't see how our offense will regress, and it moved pretty efficiently at times this year.

I'm hesitant to predict schedule toughness based on this past year's miscalculation :/ 9-3?

 

[phork]

Beat Michigan and head to the BCS. Keep momentum and build build build.

As a side note: Ertz has declared for the draft. Thats a big hit to the Stanford offense.

 

[irisheyes]

undefeated again. None of the tough teams on the list are teams they didnt beat this year. EG has the taste of undefeated in his mouth, he will accept nothing less. Excited to see us in Pasadena next year. Im still convinced the layoff was our worst enemy. Theres to much irish in me to think otherwise.

 

[AFisch86]

12-1 or 13-0 depending who we run into in the championship.

 

[OrlaNDomer]

For me I feel like Stanford, Oklahoma, Michigan, & USC will be our 4 most difficult games. I think we take 3/4 winning both home games (USC/Oklahoma). I don't see us going back to back 12-0 seasons just because it is so difficult to do, not because we can't do it. Therefore I picked us to lose at Stanford who won the Rose Bowl and is returning most of their team versus a Michigan that sucked this year and is losing Denard who was the only reason they beat us 2 of the last 3.

 

[chicago51]

Not sure where to post this.

New Athlon Sports top 25 list

College Football's Early Top 25 for 2013

 

[ThePiombino]

Not sure where to post this.

New Athlon Sports top 25 list

College Football's Early Top 25 for 2013

LOLZ @ Ohio State being ranked #2. Did Athlon only watch them on the offensive side of the ball this past year? Giving up 49 to Indiana - #2 my arse.

 

[JughedJones]

LOLZ @ Ohio State being ranked #2. Did Athlon only watch them on the offensive side of the ball this past year? Giving up 49 to Indiana - #2 my arse.

"Ohio State’s schedule isn’t daunting and it should have no trouble starting the year 4-0 with Buffalo, San Diego State, California and Florida A&M on the non-conference slate."


Seriously.... Good grief.

 

[ThePiombino]

"Ohio State’s schedule isn’t daunting and it should have no trouble starting the year 4-0 with Buffalo, San Diego State, California and Florida A&M on the non-conference slate."


Seriously.... Good grief.

I think Cal can give them a scare, but not sure they have the horses to beat them at the end of the day. But yeah- good grief indeed!

 

[tommyIRISH23]

08/31/13 Temple Owls- Win. No explanation needed

09/07/13 at Michigan Wolverines- Brady Hoke is a slightly better Charlie Weis. He fails to adjust, and is not a very good "game-time coach". Al Borges has not proven to me that he can efficiently run an offense. While UM is a tough venue, I expect ND to win 28-17ish.


09/14/13 at Purdue Boilermakers- Win, new coach and new system will have little Purdue in a tough spot.

09/21/13 Michigan State Spartans. Toss up. Mark D is a great coach and believe 2012 was an aberration for the Spartans. Theyll be back in the hunt next season for the BIG title.

09/28/13 Oklahoma Sooners- Bell-dozer scares me. If they run a Tebow-style offense they could end up be pretty good. I think we'll be lucky playing them earlier than later. ND wins.

10/5/13 Arizona State Sun Devils- This could be a nailbiter after the Oklahoma game. Todd Graham is a good coach, and his team will be ready. I think ND will win.



10/19/13 USC Trojans- Win. ND seals Kiffins fate.


10/26/13 at Air Force Falcons- Win

11/02/13 Navy Midshipmen - Win.


11/09/13 at Pittsburgh Panthers- Win


11/16/13 --- Open Date --- ---

11/23/13 BYU Cougars- Win.


11/30/13 at Stanford Cardinal- Really tough game, could be ND's best shot of losing all season. Depending on injuries...etc I expect ND to win.

I, for some reason, am worried about Arizona State. The week before could be a battle with Oklahoma, and a serious hangover could be waiting.

Predicting 12-0 is never a sure shot. I think MSU, Stanford and Arizona St. are the games to watchout for. Oklahoma will have all the hype and most likely be a night game, so I dont think the team will have any big letdowns plus Kelly embarrassed Stoops from a coaching perspective. Belldozer is my only fear. A player built like is always an X-factor.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

To the Athlon Pre-season Top 25:

This is why rankings are so messed up. O$U would have gotten DESTROYEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDDD by Alabama. They wouldn't have scored.

Yet, they go undefeated playing an FCS schedule, get the benefit of not having to play a real opponent in a bowl game (which is due to malfeasance by the University, yes I said benefit), and play a cupcake schedule next year, AND get a high ranking for the upcoming season.

The cycle of the rankings logic, or lack thereof, will be in full motion next year.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

To the Athlon Pre-season Top 25:

This is why rankings are so messed up. O$U would have gotten DESTROYEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDDD by Alabama. They wouldn't have scored.

Yet, they go undefeated playing an FCS schedule, get the benefit of not having to play a real opponent in a bowl game (which is due to malfeasance by the University, yes I said benefit), and play a cupcake schedule next year, AND get a high ranking for the upcoming season.

The cycle of the rankings logic, or lack thereof, will be in full motion next year.

Its a disgrace. Strength of schedule has to enter the equation again. Speaking of, ever look at Paterno's schedules? Jesus Christ...I could have coached the team and won 8-9 games a year.

 

[chicago51]

Guys don't worry it about Northwestern is going to take Oho State down. 10/5/13 in Evanston mark it down. I think I'm going to that game.

BTW it is sad that other than at scUM. Playing at NW is toughest game on Ohio State's schedule.

 

[Irish#1]

12-0 is a realistic possibility.

USC and OU will be breaking in new QBs, albeit ones that do have game experience but do lose some key contributors. Stanford is losing both TEs. Michigan is always tough but I expect ND to win that.

ND will be out for blood this season. Add in the athleticism of guys like Jaylon, Max, Butler, Anzalone, Cole Luke and another year of development for the current crop and I see more domination then in years past.

BK and Swarbrick have both been saying they have thought this upcoming season to be the break out party. They have had a plan and must see things in the current group plus with the new additions to warrant such comments. Yeah, they jumped the gun a bit this year but look out for 2013.

Do you know something I don't?

I'm feeling me a 10-2 season. Not ready to say where the losses are, but I wouldn't be surprised if we are 12-0 again.

 

[WaveDomer]

I think it is incredibly difficult to go undefeated in college football. Even teams that win the BCS aren't always undefeated. Boise State with that weak schedule has only done it 2 times under Petersen. Just everything that goes into it mentally, physically, and freak things in games. Can ND go undefeated? Sure. Will they? I don't know.

 

[Dizzyphil]

If the Irish go undefeated, it will alabama and the Irish again. I cannot see Alabama losing a game again unless to aTm. Their schedule favors them tremendously and it cannot be within the top 50 of sos.

Aug. 31......... Virginia Tech................................ Atlanta, Ga.
Sept. 14......... *at Texas A&M............................ College Station, Texas
Sept. 21......... Colorado State............................. Bryant-Denny Stadium
Sept. 28......... *Ole Miss..................................... Bryant-Denny Stadium
Oct. 5............ Georgia State............................... Bryant-Denny Stadium
Oct. 12.......... *at Kentucky................................ Lexington, Ky.
Oct. 19.......... *Arkansas..................................... Bryant-Denny Stadium
Oct. 26.......... *Tennessee.................................. Bryant-Denny Stadium
Nov. 9........... *LSU............................................ Bryant-Denny Stadium
Nov. 16......... *at Mississippi State........................ Starkville, Miss.
Nov. 23......... Chattanooga.................................. Bryant-Denny Stadium
Nov. 30......... *at Auburn.................................... Auburn, Ala.

5 away games 1 being neutral site. Fairly easy schedule. LSU being the toughest outside of aTm.


GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!!!

Diz

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

If the Irish go undefeated, it will alabama and the Irish again. I cannot see Alabama losing a game again unless to aTm. Their schedule favors them tremendously and it cannot be within the top 50 of sos.

Aug. 31......... Virginia Tech................................ Atlanta, Ga.
Sept. 14......... *at Texas A&M............................ College Station, Texas
Sept. 21......... Colorado State............................. Bryant-Denny Stadium
Sept. 28......... *Ole Miss..................................... Bryant-Denny Stadium
Oct. 5............ Georgia State............................... Bryant-Denny Stadium
Oct. 12.......... *at Kentucky................................ Lexington, Ky.
Oct. 19.......... *Arkansas..................................... Bryant-Denny Stadium
Oct. 26.......... *Tennessee.................................. Bryant-Denny Stadium
Nov. 9........... *LSU............................................ Bryant-Denny Stadium
Nov. 16......... *at Mississippi State........................ Starkville, Miss.
Nov. 23......... Chattanooga.................................. Bryant-Denny Stadium
Nov. 30......... *at Auburn.................................... Auburn, Ala.

5 away games 1 being neutral site. Fairly easy schedule. LSU being the toughest outside of aTm.


GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!!!

Diz

Wow. With the number of LSU losses, that schedule looks a lot easier. I agree...if they get past A&M they have a great chance to go undefeated.

 

[PraetorianND]

If the Irish go undefeated, it will alabama and the Irish again. I cannot see Alabama losing a game again unless to aTm. Their schedule favors them tremendously and it cannot be within the top 50 of sos.

Aug. 31......... Virginia Tech................................ Atlanta, Ga.
Sept. 14......... *at Texas A&M............................ College Station, Texas
Sept. 21......... Colorado State............................. Bryant-Denny Stadium
Sept. 28......... *Ole Miss..................................... Bryant-Denny Stadium
Oct. 5............ Georgia State............................... Bryant-Denny Stadium
Oct. 12.......... *at Kentucky................................ Lexington, Ky.
Oct. 19.......... *Arkansas..................................... Bryant-Denny Stadium
Oct. 26.......... *Tennessee.................................. Bryant-Denny Stadium
Nov. 9........... *LSU............................................ Bryant-Denny Stadium
Nov. 16......... *at Mississippi State........................ Starkville, Miss.
Nov. 23......... Chattanooga.................................. Bryant-Denny Stadium
Nov. 30......... *at Auburn.................................... Auburn, Ala.

5 away games 1 being neutral site. Fairly easy schedule. LSU being the toughest outside of aTm.


GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!!!

Diz

Wow that schedule is cake. No UGA or UF? LSU at home. A&M could trip them up. I have a feeling Saban doesn't let Johnny take them down again though. Bama will be in the NCG again next year.