Toughest game this season

[ZIBBY49]

Who posses the greatest challenge. I gotta say its Michigan, its only three games into the season and carr is going to have a fire lit under there butts after We beat them in the big house last year.

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

I agree, Michigan. Hart will be in good shape and Henne will have a target in Mario Manningham who will have had his first year of experience under his belt.

Also, Georgia Tech could pose a serious threat. I'm trying to get my hands on some clips of their games last year, but they're an athletic team that can create some surprises.

 

[irishfan]

I would have to say its going to be USC for a few reasons. While they may have some problems at qb, with no real experience, as well as at rb, its a very important and also going to be a very tough game. First of all, there d is going to be better this year I think, on offense we all know they got a bunch of explosive rb's, and both their big receivers are back. This will show if that d will improve from last year, as they couldnt seem to handle the deep speed. It will probably be the most hyped game where ND could be undefeated and looking for a NC or BCS game, being played in Cal, as well as probably having an impact on some serious recruits.
I hope we run the table as all of you do, but I think this will be the hardest game, as I know Weis will have them ready to go early in the year. Michigan is very good, with lots of talent, but I dont see them having the elite speed ND will face at USC.

 

[jiggafini19]

Everyone in September, then USC.

The Michigan game worries me the most.

 

[Vince Young]

Top 5 toughest games...

5. Georgia Tech - Dangerous and athletic. Just ask Miami.
4. Michigan State - We just seem to be snakebit around them.
3. Penn State - JoePa will have the boys UP for this game.
2. Michigan - Never take the Wolverines for granted, even under Llllloyd.
1. USC - They don't rebuild... they reload.

Of course, any team can be dangerous if they're overlooked, especially against Notre Dame. Everyone always seems to save their best for us. Charlie'd better have us ready each and every Saturday.

 

[iloveirish_12]

Michigan State. How can you not think of them? Seeing how they beat us all the time. The only thing ND has got this year on Michigan State is, the game is at Michigan State and not ND. Since they can't beat State at home.

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

The only thing ND has got this year on Michigan State is, the game is at Michigan State and not ND. Since they can't beat State at home.

And that last season they over-looked the game. But thanks to MSU's flag-planting, that won't happen again, lol. This game will have the Irish pumped and we have MSU to thank for it.

 

[LuckoftheIrish86]

I gotta agree with the users above...its Michigan. After two slobberknockers with Geo tech and Penn St, We will have our hands full with them...they are looking to get back at us after beatin them two straight years.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

GT scares me most...they are the sleeper.

The rest the Irish will be "on guard" for.

 

[A2McGowan]

Obviously the biggest obstacle is MSU 'cause they precede SC and it will be a primetime under the lights ABC game.....the super nemesis over the past decade.

 

[irishfan]

I think that the MSU game will be a lot like the Pudue game of 2005. Weis will have us ready after a 3-0 start, and that flag pic from last year will be all over the locker room. Expect a quick start from the irish offense, and a victory by atleast 3 scores.

 

[mirertobrooks]

Speaking of getting off to a quick start did anyone notice last year how effective ND was in the no-huddle offense. There were a few games we came out in the no-huddle and we also moved the ball well when playing from behind in the no-huddle, (Stanford, Ohio St, Mich St) I wonder if there is a stat of the amount of scores we put up last year when in the no huddle. Anways I vote for Mich St and USC, the best offenses we're going to see all year. I think we can outscore everyone else. I don't think Michigan is good, but they are scary, everyone else has alot of key players to replace, like UCLA, Penn St. Stanford is really not that bad either, and there sweater wearing coach loves to beat ND.

 

[ACamp1900]

as of right now.. I'd go with GT, look no further than that, if our boys don't we WILL be 0-1 to start the season, that matchup is an upset waiting to happen

 

[ZIBBY49]

While i still believe a healthy michigan is the toughest team this season, I also agree that if Georgia Tech is in any way overlooked it could be a disaster that could cause a tail spin through the next two or maybe three games. So It is imperitive that we come out and play very disiplined ball against Tech, get the win and the momentum going and run the table.

 

[TexasDomer]

I know what Charlie would say.

The toughest game will be Georgia Tech. After that one, Penn State, then Michigan...

One at a time, folks. I'm optimistic, but I've been let down too much the last 18 years.

 

[scooper]

The politically correct answer is always the next game. However, I am a fan, not a player and have the luxury to look ahead.

I see the toughest game being the National Championship game in Arizona.

 

[jiggafini19]

Top 5 toughest games...

5. Georgia Tech - Dangerous and athletic. Just ask Miami.
4. Michigan State - We just seem to be snakebit around them.
3. Penn State - JoePa will have the boys UP for this game.
2. Michigan - Never take the Wolverines for granted, even under Llllloyd.
1. USC - They don't rebuild... they reload.

Pretty much nails it down.

I'm curious to see how Michigan State comes into their 2006 season. After ND, they beat Illinois and Indiana. Assistant coaches getting thrown under the bus and some of the worst special teams I've ever seen in my life.

We'll see what that attitude and culture are like this time around.

They host Idaho, Eastern Michigan and take a road trip to Pitt before playing ND.

Again, ND plays GT, PSU, UM before heading up to East Lansing.

 

[AlbuquerqueIrishFan]

USC, then Michigan. I think we win the rest of our games fairly easily.

 

[sblxdoc]

I'm most worried of Penn State. They're coming off a huge year and haven't played ND in South Bend in awhile. They will definitely be ready and so should we.

Obviously USC is right up with them. How intense will that be when both teams are undefeated come November?

 

[irishnd31]

I know what Charlie would say.

The toughest game will be Georgia Tech. After that one, Penn State, then Michigan...

One at a time, folks. I'm optimistic, but I've been let down too much the last 18 years.

Exactly.

 

[GREENJERSEYS'07]

Michigan State. How can you not think of them? Seeing how they beat us all the time. The only thing ND has got this year on Michigan State is, the game is at Michigan State and not ND. Since they can't beat State at home.

michigan state beat bob davie all the time!!!!!!

bob davie 0-5
ty 2-1
holtz 8-1
faust 4-1
devine 5-1
ara 8-2-1

even holtz and devine lost to state their first year

 

[SuperBowlIVBaby]

I think the toughest game by far will be Michigan. USC will have a year much like Michigan did last year. USC will have 2 possibly 3 losses by the time we play them and they will be reeling. I think we beat them by 3-TDs this year. Arkansas will beat USC in the first game of the season. You read it here first!

 

[ZIBBY49]

You could be right, Arkansas is starting to come around, and USC is trying to reload. Even though USC is putting blue chip recruits,or transfers in at qb they are still quite unproven. So hopefully the razorbacks beat up on them a little bit, bring them back to reality, and when its our turn we punish them for the bush push, punish them very very badly.

 

[jiggafini19]

What helps USC is that all of those road games they played in 2005 are now home games this year.

On the flipside, ND is going to have quite a few home contests this year.

 

[Harpua]

By the time ND plays USC those new USC players will have had quite a bit of playing time. If this game was in September I think it would be much easier to pick ND.

On paper Michigan should be really good but a Lloyd Carr team on the road is going to play way too conservatively to keep up with the ND scoring machine.

I'm nervous about GT just because it's the first game. I think that it will be a lot like the Pitt game last year, a lot of pre-game fretting but ND will have the game in hand by half time.

Penn State should be good but it's early in the season, they are starting a freshman QB along with a lot of other new players, and it's a home game. Penn State will be a much tougher game next year.

MSU. I don't know what to say. By any rational line of thought they shouldn't be on this list but they seem to have a way of catching ND right before they go through their annual melt down.

What about UCLA? I think that one could be a shoot out.

 

[tmacirish]

the Georgia Tech game is the trap games that worry me. I am scared theyll be overlookin gtech since psu is next. Other then that im pretty confident. MSU will never beat us again thanks to the moron who planted the flag. Bc of that the spartans will not win for the next ten years.

 

[scooper]

the Georgia Tech game is the trap games that worry me. I am scared theyll be overlookin gtech since psu is next. Other then that im pretty confident. MSU will never beat us again thanks to the moron who planted the flag. Bc of that the spartans will not win for the next ten years.

GT worries me, but for other reasons. I don't think the Irish will be down. The Fiesta Bowl was a wake up call and certainly left a bad taste in their mouths. It will be a hungry Irish team taking the field in Atlanta Sept. 2.

 

[buster99]

buster99

buster99

I think Michigan and USC will be the most difficult

 

[knute]

Who posses the greatest challenge. I gotta say its Michigan, its only three games into the season and carr is going to have a fire lit under there butts after We beat them in the big house last year.

I'll say what Coach Weis would say: the first game is the one to worry about. We've got to beat Georgia Tech and you've got to believe that they'll give us everything that we can handle and then some.

 

[knute]

I see the toughest game being the National Championship game in Arizona.

Nice answer. I've got to believe that our 3rd consecutive National Chapionship game in 2009 will be the toughest. It's so hard to keep a streak going past 35 in a row...