Week 1: ND vs South Florida Predictions

[IrishP]

He's an option for KR and will likely continue seeing practice reps at the position, but Riddick and Jackson are the top two at the moment.

Thank you for the info sir!

 

[johnnyoooo]

Rees and Crist

Rees and Crist

Hey let us give Rees and Crist some credit two young inexperienced young bucks in a new spread offensive scheme and with a offensive line with a past three year horrible history. When they and the offensive line executed they went through defenses fast. But it was not until the fourth quarter against Southern Cal they got their run game together. I would imagine Kelly will test his run game real quick against Florida. The key for them is get the run game cooking and then play with the spread passing. But sense what is coming and a huge key is a huge defensive line kicking butt. If the defensive line ties up offensive linemen Teo and Calebrese will play. Then Tuitt and Lynch will play too. But who knows I get too keyed up optimistic this time of year. Yet I sense the defensive line will be awesome and offenses will look to run off the edges.

 

[BobD]

My predictions:

Notre Dame wins 38-3.

The Irish defense starts to become the talk of the country. 5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries and hits so hard they're heard in Michigan.

Go Irish!!

 

[Old Man Mike]

I'll bet a bunch of money that nobody returns the second half kickoff for Notre Dame, maybe all year long. Who knows why??

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

I'll bet a bunch of money that nobody returns the second half kickoff for Notre Dame, maybe all year long. Who knows why??

Kelly likes to start with the ball and everybody else will defer so that the game doesn't start against ND's defense?

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

I'll bet a bunch of money that nobody returns the second half kickoff for Notre Dame, maybe all year long. Who knows why??

Is it because we will be so good that by halftime in every game we will be up by so much a "mercy rule" will apply?

 

[Irish Man3]

Notre Dame wins by a two-three touchdown margain.

South Florida has a very athletic team, especially on defense. However, Notre Dame will have as solid an offensive line as we've seen in years. This will be the most improved aspect of our team. I expect to see short, quick passes to get either quarterback comfortable. Quick passes and a heavy dose of running will put some points on the board.

Predictions:

Notre Dame 31
South Florida 16

Notre Dame's defense racks up four sacks and two interceptions.

Notre Dame's offense puts up 350-400 yards of total offense.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

24-16 ND.

 

[johnnyoooo]

Brute Force

Brute Force

Hey I did informal league football in New York City and hard South Bronx patrol as a 6-4 young buck cop. You learn so quick how to use your size and leveage to take down bad dudes. So dwell on Notre Dame's defensive line almost 300 lbs across the line. You guys know they are now experienced so I really expect them to beat up offenses this season. Hey what leaps out at me is a defensive line almost 300 lbs per man and experienced.. Fellas you know they will put offenses in slow motion for Teo and the linebackers to clean up. I did all the South Bronx combat commands hard patrol but the 46 Command was loaded with Marine Pacific vets from death at Tarawa to Okinawa. So they taught us young bucks to do gun battles so we did big time.So no different with Notre Dame their vets are on a kick butt missions and will bug Lynch, Tuitt and the rookie gang to go out and kick butt. God I know the feeling did three gun battles South Bronx 1969-70.

 

[BleedBlue&Gold]

ND 30 USF 13

 

[johnnyoooo]

Bronx Notre Dame Irish

Bronx Notre Dame Irish

Hey you had thousands of kids come out of Scared Heart Parish Highbridge and St. Angela South Bronx 1940's who were first generation Irish and so much wilder then Tom Sawyer or the Bowery Bums. All we knew was play guns kill Japs and root for The Fighting Irish. We knew when the crowd roared Notre Dame had scored and the same in Yankee baseball. My older brother worked the Notre Dame-Army 46 tie as a vendor counter man wow. As a Irish Christian Brother monk my older brother ran out on the field with the Notre Dame team against Southern Cal at Los Angles. That was only one of his history with Notre Dame football. Guys got stories to share if okay down the road.

 

[mgriff]

You guys know what I mean when I post this?

 

[GreatGolson]

I predict that, like always, i will post a stirring thread the night before which toasts to the season's success, i will then crawl on my knees for 5 miles to my nearest church for a candelight vigil with several other ND diehards. The next morning, at the first sign of sunlight, we shall pile into the car, grab the annual Chick-Fil-A breakfast in Carmel, then burn rubber on I-70 along with the rest of the caravan from indy. I also predict that i shall recieve no less than 2 speeding tickets from the Indiana State Nazi Patrol. When on campus, i predict that at least 7 different older drunken allumni will try to start a "WE ARE ND" chant while waiting for the players to come out of church. I also predict that there will be no suit large enough for Troy Nikalas to wear during mass so he will just wear his usual Hercules battle armor. Oh yah and i think were gunna win too.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Predictions:

Notre Dame 31
South Florida 16

Thief!!

 

[PatsandBostonfan1975]

34 - 17 Irish up two touchdowns by half. Woods 135 2 td's.

 

[TDHeysus]

I seem to think the same as most everyone else...about 10-17 point victory, maybe more. But I have a feeling that Riddick is going to have a good game. He is the 'other side of the equal sign' to Floyd and may surprise USF.

 

[ruger7mmmag]

This game is going to be a lot closer than many of you would imagine. USF is in a unique position as a program where their younger players are better than their seniors. You see it up and down the lineup where redshirt fresh and sophs are challenging seniors. The defense is probably as good if not better than the 2007 unit which sent quite a few guys to the NFL like Mike Jenkins, Trae Williams, JPP, Selvie, Tmac, Nate Allen, Jerome Murphy etc. This defense is LOADED with SPEED. Our trouble spot will be on offense. Our WRs still are our weakness, OL is thin and unproven (though talented) and you don't know which BJ is going to show up. HOWEVER, with that being said, USF has a incredible physical talent on the unit. They've got BLAZING speed at WR in guys like Lindsey Lamar, TRex and Hopkins, size in Landi, Marc and they've got a great compliment of RBs in Scott (fast/big), Murray (fast, versatile) and Shaw (blazing fast). Don't forget, if BJ comes out aggressive where he'll tuck it and run, then ND could be in for a long day as he's going to be healthy.

STs? You may not face a better return team than you'll see with Lamar and Trex back there and Bonani doesn't miss FGs.

I actually think that all things being said, Kelly knows how close the two teams are in talent which is why you see Floyd playing the first game. If ND was playing some scrap team, he'd have been suspended as he should've though we're not complaining as we don't want any excuses should we pull this off.

I honestly think NDs best weapon is Kelly himself. He has always had our number though that was with Leavitt at the helm and this USF staff actually can make adjustments where CJLs staff never made a single one I can remember.

I think this is a 3-4 point game either way with ND winning by a FG due to home field advantage.

Hope I'm wrong as I'll be there in South Bend cheering on my Bulls...

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

I'll bet a bunch of money that nobody returns the second half kickoff for Notre Dame, maybe all year long. Who knows why??

Everyone will be too drunk!

 

[johnnyoooo]

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Hey listen up Skip Holtz is a young impending great coach perhaps. But take it to the bank Notre Dame will blow them away We should do the same thing with Michigan and Michigan State. and would have last year but for bad breaks. With Michigan and Michigan State their offensive lines will experience. what it means to be beat up by a huge Notre Dame defensive line this year. Notre Dame never had a front four or three almost 300 pounders in my old time.So teams will get the word do not run on us run grab bag trick plays and run off the outside to beat Notre Dame strong but slow fronts until Lynch and Tuitt are sent in. Does not matter if Crist or Rees plays who ever can consistantly execute will cut it and both this season are capable of just that.My gut insight is Notre Dame simply will beat up opposing team offensives and defenses physically and their offense will explode off that. My prediction simply becasue of the huge defensive line yep we go undefeated.

 

[Buster Bluth]

But take it to the bank Notre Dame will blow them away We should do the same thing with Michigan and Michigan State. and would have last year but for bad breaks.

Easy killer.

 

[johnnyoooo]

Hey Dudes

Hey Dudes

Yoo forget Florida scrimage dwell on how we will blow Michigan and Michigan State out.. The key will be our huge defensive linemen beating up offensive lines. Don't suspect Crist will blow a leg or a trick pass off a fake field goal this year. Sense Kelly has the big mooses to kick butt and the speed of Lynch , Truitt with their speed to clean up. My hunch is we go undefeated simply beating up offensive lines.

 

[Buster Bluth]

You and irishtrinity should start an Irish Eyes club..

 

[mgriff]

In case some didn't get my Lee Corso photo; CLOSER...than the experts think.

They've got some returning starters and Skip Hotz has been known to get results against big programs, even on opening day. Everyone remember his time at East Carolina? I think ND could win handily, if things go right for them, but I see the Bulls keeping it relatively close. I won't go for an ND loss, but I can't forsee a blowout, especially in the first game. 31-14, with a fourth quarter TD and field goal from ND putitng it away.

*Disclaimer*

The homer in me is calling for a blowout. 45-7 is my blowout score. I reserve the right to said I told you so if either of these scores are close.

 

[DuffHouse12]

i'm pumped for the south florida game. if we play physical and have sound fundamentals we will win.

my prediction (as per the thread title) is

Notre Dame 31
South Florida 13

Crist will throw for 3 TDs, 280 yards and 1 pick
Wood will have 105 yds and a TD

1 OLB Sack for ND and two DL sacks. not a bad start, but not a beat down like Kent St. v Alabama will be.

 

[jason_h537]

Notre Dame 28
USF 17

 

[Whiskeyjack]

They've got some returning starters and Skip Hotz has been known to get results against big programs, even on opening day. Everyone remember his time at East Carolina? I think ND could win handily, if things go right for them, but I see the Bulls keeping it relatively close. I won't go for an ND loss, but I can't forsee a blowout, especially in the first game. 31-14, with a fourth quarter TD and field goal from ND putitng it away.

There are indeed reasons why USF may end up being a close game, but returning starters isn't one of them. USF returns only 12 of 24 starters from 2010, which ranks them 112th among FBS schools.

That's reason #1 USF fans should be very worried about this game (and most of 2011 tbh), but I've yet to read a post from one recognizing the enormity of this disadvantage. Instead, it's the stock "but all the guys behind those starters are better!1one"

Really? Then why weren't they starting last year?

 

[tommyIRISH23]

There are indeed reasons why USF may end up being a close game, but returning starters isn't one of them. USF returns only 12 of 24 starters from 2010, which ranks them 112th among FBS schools.

That's reason #1 USF fans should be very worried about this game (and most of 2011 tbh), but I've yet to read a post from one recognizing the enormity of this disadvantage. Instead, it's the stock "but all the guys behind those starters are better!1one"

Really? Then why weren't they starting last year?

I think they mean the new player was rated as being more talented, like Lynch vs. Ethan Johnson. But, I'd be pretty worried if half my team was new, 3 or 4 talented guys can excel with 7-8 returning starters, but a gang of new blood running around could be ugly, especially game 1. Im sure SF will be much improved, and a significantly better defense by week 10

 

[woolybug25]

I think they mean the new player was rated as being more talented, like Lynch vs. Ethan Johnson. But, I'd be pretty worried if half my team was new, 3 or 4 talented guys can excel with 7-8 returning starters, but a gang of new blood running around could be ugly, especially game 1. Im sure SF will be much improved, and a significantly better defense by week 10

Here is my thought on this, which is pretty much the same thing that you are saying. Even if they feel that their new players are going to be better, it doesn't necessarily translate into the defense playing better.

Consider our lineup. By no means do their new players have the potential of our new players, but imagine if we were starting Tuitt, Nix, Lynch and Ishaq because of lack of depth and returning starters. Sure we would be excited about their potential, but we would be extremely concerned about their lack of experience and our depth behind them. Defense, especially on the front seven, is all about gap responsibility and performing "your role". Pair that with depth, and you have the necessary players to perfom at a high level. That's what makes dominant front 7's. While that future front is exciting to us, there wont be many of us that would want that to be our starting lineup on Sep 3rd...

 

[tommyIRISH23]

Here is my thought on this, which is pretty much the same thing that you are saying. Even if they feel that their new players are going to be better, it doesn't necessarily translate into the defense playing better.

Consider our lineup. By no means do their new players have the potential of our new players, but imagine if we were starting Tuitt, Nix, Lynch and Ishaq because of lack of depth and returning starters. Sure we would be excited about their potential, but we would be extremely concerned about their lack of experience and our depth behind them. Defense, especially on the front seven, is all about gap responsibility and performing "your role". Pair that with depth, and you have the necessary players to perfom at a high level. That's what makes dominant front 7's. While that future front is exciting to us, there wont be many of us that would want that to be our starting lineup on Sep 3rd...

Oh Yeah, I totally agree. Remember Manti his frosh year? He did well...for being a frosh, but was out of position a lot, missed tackles..etc Even last year, he was awesome, but still made some bonehead decision. We definitely haven't seen his best football yet, and I am excited to watch him go to the next level this year.

 

[johnnyoooo]

From reading this site and all the information about the Notre Dame Team the one key point that leaps out at me is the over 300 lb size of the defensive line. It appears offenses are going to have trouble running against them and much good stuff will flow off that.