Which team on the schedule has the best chance to beat us and why?

[solo]

There is nobody on the schedule that should absolutely beat us, but a number of teams that have enough talent to. Which team do you think stands the best chance of beating us?

I'm gonna say Michigan. I know that Carr has never beaten ND at ND and that he has an awful road opener record. But just looking at things from an X's and O's and talent standpoint, they scare me more than any other team.

1. They return 8 players from a pretty good defense of last year that held us to our season low.

2. Although their offense won't be as powerful as ours, Henne, Hart, and Breaston are a pretty lethal skill player triangle. They should be able to move the ball and score some points.

3. Carr is feeling some heat this year. I don't expect him to play his vanilla, conservative, on the road gameplan like usual.

4. I think they have a little more depth than us.

5. This game is almost always a doozie.

I think USC may actually have more talent than Michigan. We also play USC away and late in the season after all their new starters will have almost a full year of experience. But something about Michigan this year scares me more than USC.

 

[A2McGowan]

UM completely re-vamped their coaching staff where it counts. They are in ridiculous shape this year, and basically from what I've read it's like their manhood has been challenged. Not only could they win this year, but I feel it will be a very physical game that will impact the MSU game the following week via various injuries and guys who will be hobbled. They will undoubtedly try to knock Quinn out of the game, and ATTACK DOWN FIELD with Breaston and Manningham.....

 

[lattedatte]

Great thread, I was going to do this when the prediction one slowed down.

I really struggle with this one but I did predict us to lose one game and Michigan was that team. I do think we'll lose one, confident of that. The only reason I picked Michigan was becuase mostly of talent and revenge factors. However, Carr should be teaching second grade math to fifth graders, since that is about the only job he could be successful at. And we pretty much own them at home. So I could see Charlie mastermining us to victory. If we don't lose to them, I can't see us losing the rest of the way, even to the condoms.

GT scares me too but I think Brady wins it in the fourth and firmly taking the heisman hype to atmosphirical(is that a word?) levels.

 

[scooper]

Michigan's manhood should be challenged. Were this game in Ann Arbor I would say them.

But I think it's USC. solo's point is legit. It's late in the season. They will not be inexperienced by the time the Irish roll into town. And they still have more talent than any team on our schedule.

 

[A2McGowan]

Not to mention, remember how many big-time kids will be at this game that are considering UM and ND. Huge circumstances surround this matchup. Gonna be great!!!! Someone give me a braut and a frosty beverage or three!!!

 

[A2McGowan]

Oh yeah, one more thing. UT will take down #1 OSU......if ND can make it through the first two, they will be ranked #1 going against UM and under the lights primetime at MSU. Lansing will be going apes*** for that one.

 

[Irish Envy]

In my opinion, Notre Dame has a legit chance to lose to 3 teams on the schedule those being Michigan, Penn State, and USC. There is also a group of 3 teams that scare me that include GT, Michigan State and UCLA.

 

[jiggafini19]

In my opinion, Notre Dame has a legit chance to lose to 3 teams on the schedule those being Michigan, Penn State, and USC. There is also a group of 3 teams that scare me that include GT, Michigan State and UCLA.

GT, UM and USC.

I've heard nothing but bad feedback on Anthony Morelli. PSU was Michael Robinson and Tamba Hali's team last year. Both are gone.

 

[BigIrish]

GT, UM and USC.

I've heard nothing but bad feedback on Anthony Morelli. PSU was Michael Robinson and Tamba Hali's team last year. Both are gone.

seriously? GT? the more i read about them, the less i worry about them. as we speak, they're playing with two offensive lineman that were converted from the defensive line just a FEW DAYS AGO. their offensive line has already been decimated with injuries this summer. their secondary features players that most recently were playing wide receiver, and one of them is (or was) a walk on competing for playing time. and their quarterback is STILL getting hot/cold practice reports just two weeks out from game day.

i'm sure most everybody here reads bluegraysky, so i won't go into it in this post, but they've got a recent article up that highlights the injury problems at GT. it's safe to say that GT will be fielding a wounded team when they take the field against the irish.

that said, is it possible for GT to beat the irish? sure. that's why they play the game. but an opening game with a hobbled o-line and a shaky secondary against one of the veteran irish offenses in a long time?

 

[solo]

Here's what I don't like about GT:

1. Road game.
2. They have a mobile Qb and we struggle with mobile Qb's
3. They have an All American WR and we struggle against AA WRs
4. They have a strong DL that sacked Miami's QB 7 times last year in their big win

That said:

1. Reggie Ball could single handedly lose this game for the Jacket's. He is a 4 year starter whose completion percentage has gone down each year. He can look as bad as they come at times.

2. BQ should have a huge day as GT has some newbies in the secondary.

3. We have better players and bettr coaching

I could see this game being close or I could see it being a blowout. I think it depends on which Reggie Ball shows up. Either way though, the Irish should prevail.

 

[lattedatte]

Another reason, they beat Aurburn last year in the opener...

 

[BigIrish]

Another reason, they beat Aurburn last year in the opener...

they don't return the same defense that sacked miami 7 times last year, no does their win against auburn last year have any bearing on their chances against the irish this year.

 

[RyanS]

USC has the best chance, but that is not to say that the others don't.

USC is the most talented team (on paper) and facing them so late in the season means they get the time to gel. By the time ND faces USC, their QB will be battle tested, and their new RBs will ahve had the chance to get significant playing time.

 

[cclanofirish]

By the same token however, Notre Dames defense could be a surprise this year, and we may take it to USC with our defense. I get the feeling that with the way the defense was humiliated last year, and how much Weis has emphasized that side of the ball, that this defense could be a complete shock to all of us this fall.

 

[A2McGowan]

Take Reggie Bush out of last year's game and SC loses by two touchdowns. What that kid single-handedly did last year in that game was unbelievable. I like this year's matchup and everything should be riding on that game when it comes around.

 

[solo]

Take Reggie Bush out of last year's game and SC loses by two touchdowns. What that kid single-handedly did last year in that game was unbelievable. I like this year's matchup and everything should be riding on that game when it comes around.

But don't you expect SC's defense to be much improved? I doubt that we will have the 2 to 1 in time of possession this year like we did last year. And with SC's top recruiting classes, they should have players ready to step up on offense.

All that said, this should be out best chance to beat them in YEARS!

 

[NDAlumSon]

Best Chance?

Best Chance?

In order:
UM - Why?.........It's Michigan
USC - Why?........Away game, it's USC
MSU - Why?.......Away game, Stanton
GT - Why?..........Away game, first game of the season
PSU
UCLA
UNC
Stanford
Navy
Purdue
Air Force
Army

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

Michigan - they are unpredictable. It seems like win-streaks in this series aren't meant to last. Plus, Hart is back, he'll be healthy, and Henne...might improve, although, I think he was overrated coming in as a freshman. They need a reciever to step up, though, and maybe it'll be Manningham.

 

[onenybrother]

I agree with Svoboda we can lose about 6 games if we are not on top of our game. Army Navy, Air Force and Stanford are the only teams we should straight out dominate. The rest of the schedule , lets put it this way. LETS GO DAME !

 

[irish9331]

USC, they have been the best team in CFB for the past few years so some respect needs to pay, but I still hate them with all of my soul.