The way too early 2013 prediction thread

[Dizzyphil]

They lost some key players though. Fluker, Lacy, Barrett, and another guy on the O-line. Also Milliner.

I think the lower tier SEC plays a little better next year. That includes Tennessee & Auburn, although I don't see it likely they lose those.

Agreed. Going to have to be one of those ' we beat ourselves ' scenario.

Diz

 

[stlnd01]

They lost some key players though. Fluker, Lacy, Barrett, and another guy on the O-line. Also Milliner.

I think the lower tier SEC plays a little better next year. That includes Tennessee & Auburn, although I don't see it likely they lose those.

I think Auburn will be significantly better than they were this year. Almost have to be. Arkansas, too. And Ole Miss is on the rise. Still, LSU will be down, and they get most of their quality opponents at home. I'd bet A&M is the only game in which 'Bama isn't at least a touchdown favorite.

 

[IrishLion]

Looking forward to seeing the offense to continue to open up significantly... with the loss of Eifert and the fact that Niklas and Koyack are still unproven, Golson is going to be asked to shoulder a lot more of the load. I'm hoping to see BK open things up like he did at UC.

I think with a year under his belt, and Kiel lighting a fire under his ***, Golson will be capable of running any play that BK desires at any time, without worrying about taking care of the football. Without a proven tight end, we could see more true 4 WR sets than we did this year. With Jones, Daniels, and Brown all getting reps this past season, and Neal, Ferguson and some talented freshmen coming in, Golson should develop good chemistry with all of them and we should see all of them get their share of opportunities to make big plays.

Look for a return to BK's favored "deep route" tree, where almost all routes go at least seven yards straight down the field before the receivers break, with constant deep options/shots down the field (with the exception of the WR screen and some crossing patterns).

Of course, I'm not predicting the running game drops in focus, especially if GAIII/Carlisle/Mahone/Bryant/BatteringCam decides to step up and be a reliable playmaker. However, with Golson presumably taking a step forward and the absence of proven tight ends, I expect the tempo to increase greatly, resulting in every facet of the offense seeing increased opportunities. The offense will run more plays, meaning more opportunities for the pass game AND the run game.

Defensively, I haven't seen/heard enough to feel comfortable making any predictions about the secondary, and it will be interesting to see how the rotation works at DE, assuming Sheldon steps into KLM's spot. Tuitt, Day, and Nix will start, and we'll see Springmann inside of course, but will Jones be ready to provide quality reps? Will Rochell be ready to play immediatly situationally? What about Hounshell? Is he good to go?

Will Grace take Teo's spot, or will we see Calabrese next to Fox full time? What about Kendall Moore? Is he finally ready to force his way onto the field?

We know what we have with Russell and Jackson, but what about the third corner? Will it be Atkinson, or will Luke be ready immediatly? Will Jalen Brown have a coming out party? Or will Shumate stay at corner and be the nickel back AND a replacement for Jackson in the future? What about Lo Wood?

Who will be deep with Farley if Slaughter's appeal is denied? My money is on Collinsworth, but Barratti could pass him, or Shumate if he moves back to safety, or Redfield if he is everthing we have heard, or possibly even Prosise after a year adjusting to higher competition.

I think there are more questions defensively, or else I'm extremely offensive-minded.

EDIT: Oh, I also see 10-2... I wanted to say 11-1, but after Temple, the next 5 games are brutal before the first bye week. I see a loss in one of those first 6, and a dropped game to USC or Stanford in the second half.

 

[Fbolt]

The 2013 schedule is:

08/31/13 Temple Owls
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
Big win for the Irish. 41-7 Irish

09/07/13 at Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
Two in a row against the winged turds. 31-6 Irish.

09/14/13 at Purdue Boilermakers
Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN
Not again. 24-6 Irish

09/21/13 Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
Tough game. 21-17 Irish.

09/28/13 Oklahoma Sooners
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
Another difficult contest. 17-7 Irish.

10/5/13 Arizona State Sun Devils
Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, T
Hello new unis! 38-10 Irish.

10/12/13 --- Open Date --- ---

10/19/13 USC Trojans
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
FU! 31-13 Irish.

10/26/13 at Air Force Falcons
Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO
Back in the groove. 45-9 Irish.

11/02/13 Navy Midshipmen
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
46-10 Irish-no contest.

11/09/13 at Pittsburgh Panthers
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
ND owns the midwest. Irish roll 31-13.

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

11/23/13 BYU Cougars
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
What is it with BYU??? Irish squeak by 24-21.

11/30/13 at Stanford Cardinal
Stanford Stadium, Stanford, CA
The gap is widening. 28-10 Irish.

The team believes in itself now and after the NCG, has something to prove. Kelley/Diaca/Martin et al are sharpening the team's mental attitude. After the 2012/13 season, the TEAM (together everyone accomplishes the mission) concept is in full swing. The D is confident and improving (yes!). The QB believes in himself and is leading the O to new highs. This is the year!

Worst Case: 12-0
Best Case: 12-0
Final Case: 13-0

 

[phgreek]

We will miss the seniors but next year return a good amount of contributors.

The 2013 schedule is:

08/31/13 Temple Owls
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN

09/07/13 at Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI

09/14/13 at Purdue Boilermakers
Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN

09/21/13 Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN

09/28/13 Oklahoma Sooners
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN

10/5/13 Arizona State Sun Devils
Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, T

10/12/13 --- Open Date --- ---

10/19/13 USC Trojans
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN

10/26/13 at Air Force Falcons
Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO

11/02/13 Navy Midshipmen
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN

11/09/13 at Pittsburgh Panthers
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

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

11/23/13 BYU Cougars
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN

11/30/13 at Stanford Cardinal
Stanford Stadium, Stanford, CA

I see no reason to not go 12-0.. I can see us being as bad as 8-4 (huge disappointment) and realistically going 12-0. I think we have gotten over the hump of dropping that one game we should win.

Worst Case: 10-2
Best Case: 12-0

What do you say?

I see Michigan, Michigan State, OK, USC, and Stanford as true tests...could go either way. If I was forced to pick who we'd lose to, I'm going to say Stanford. Their QB is very good, and BTW not the guy we faced in 2012. That late in the year and we are likely to also have some key injuries.

I see ASU as a potential trap game...its Todd Graham again (member Tulsa), and they have some speed, and some leadership, and its a circus game at Dallas...not liking this One.

I have every reason to think we'll curb stomp BYU and Pitt in 2013. Pitt loses all continuity on offense, and the same for BYU, plus BYU gets an entire offensive makeover with new OC. However, I'm putting Pitt and BYU on here as possible crap the bed games because they both play us so damned tough...that all it takes is us to play less than stellar, and we could get caught...

Edit: 10-2 Defense won't bail us out all the time, and a sophomore QB is likely to have a couple bad days.

 

[D-BOE34]

The 2013 schedule is:

08/31/13 Temple Owls
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
Big win for the Irish. 41-7 Irish

09/07/13 at Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
Two in a row against the winged turds. 31-6 Irish.

09/14/13 at Purdue Boilermakers
Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN
Not again. 24-6 Irish

09/21/13 Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
Tough game. 21-17 Irish.

09/28/13 Oklahoma Sooners
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
Another difficult contest. 17-7 Irish.

10/5/13 Arizona State Sun Devils
Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, T
Hello new unis! 38-10 Irish.

10/12/13 --- Open Date --- ---

10/19/13 USC Trojans
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
FU! 31-13 Irish.

10/26/13 at Air Force Falcons
Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO
Back in the groove. 45-9 Irish.

11/02/13 Navy Midshipmen
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
46-10 Irish-no contest.

11/09/13 at Pittsburgh Panthers
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
ND owns the midwest. Irish roll 31-13.

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

11/23/13 BYU Cougars
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
What is it with BYU??? Irish squeak by 24-21.

11/30/13 at Stanford Cardinal
Stanford Stadium, Stanford, CA
The gap is widening. 28-10 Irish.

The team believes in itself now and after the NCG, has something to prove. Kelley/Diaca/Martin et al are sharpening the team's mental attitude. After the 2012/13 season, the TEAM (together everyone accomplishes the mission) concept is in full swing. The D is confident and improving (yes!). The QB believes in himself and is leading the O to new highs. This is the year!

Worst Case: 12-0
Best Case: 12-0
Final Case: 13-0

Stanford ... that is all

 

[IrishBlood81]

And one other thing: can ANYONE PUNT under the pressure of a real game?

Really! And can ANYONE RETURN under pressure?! Our special teams need some special attention this spring as a top priority IMHO.

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.

The Yellow! ... It...its...its blinding me..... gaaaah

 

[rocket66]

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.

Yeah OSU is losing a ton on defense. They'll actually be worse on that side of the ball than in 2012, believe it or not.

 

[North Buffalo Irish]

Is there some sort of rule where Bama doesn't have to play Florida anymore?

As for the Irish, I'm thinking 9-3.

 

[irishtrinity]

The 2013 schedule is:

08/31/13 Temple Owls
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
Big win for the Irish. 41-7 Irish

09/07/13 at Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
Two in a row against the winged turds. 31-6 Irish.

09/14/13 at Purdue Boilermakers
Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN
Not again. 24-6 Irish

09/21/13 Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
Tough game. 21-17 Irish.

09/28/13 Oklahoma Sooners
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
Another difficult contest. 17-7 Irish.

10/5/13 Arizona State Sun Devils
Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, T
Hello new unis! 38-10 Irish.

10/12/13 --- Open Date --- ---

10/19/13 USC Trojans
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
FU! 31-13 Irish.

10/26/13 at Air Force Falcons
Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO
Back in the groove. 45-9 Irish.

11/02/13 Navy Midshipmen
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
46-10 Irish-no contest.

11/09/13 at Pittsburgh Panthers
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
ND owns the midwest. Irish roll 31-13.

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

11/23/13 BYU Cougars
Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
What is it with BYU??? Irish squeak by 24-21.

11/30/13 at Stanford Cardinal
Stanford Stadium, Stanford, CA
The gap is widening. 28-10 Irish.

The team believes in itself now and after the NCG, has something to prove. Kelley/Diaca/Martin et al are sharpening the team's mental attitude. After the 2012/13 season, the TEAM (together everyone accomplishes the mission) concept is in full swing. The D is confident and improving (yes!). The QB believes in himself and is leading the O to new highs. This is the year!

Worst Case: 12-0
Best Case: 12-0
Final Case: 13-0

I'll take it.. I say at least 10 wins..