Sep 17 | Michigan State

[Rudy89]

24-17 MSU I just dont know if we have it in us to come back against an opponent like MSU. Hope Im wrong but I just think the state of Michigan has our number.

 

[BeauBenken]

Golden Tate via Twitter:

Lmao. I ****ing love Golden.

 

[BGIF]

Not so fast.

Signed,

Nebraska
Alabama
Half of the teams in the SEC

Ah, NO! ND is in the Top 6 (Top 5% is "one of the best") Tied with NEB and ahead of 9 that's NINE SEC teams.

Here are the Top Front 7s based on Phil Steele's '11 College FB Preview. I've listed HIS ranking for DLs and LBs. Keep in mind this was preseason and did not reflect subsequent transfers, academic casualties, or NCAA ineligibles. Spring Admissions were included.

ALA and UTX are clearly the Top 2 followed by SCa, UF, and FSU.
ND and NEB are tied for #6 just in front of OU.
I only see 3 SEC schools ahead of ND with UF making it by a single point. LSU trails by 5 (a 25% differential), ARK and UGA are way down at 35 and 37.
UTN was ranked 17th at DL (out of 37) but wasn't one of the 40 ranked teams at LB.
MST was ranked 18th at DL and also unranked at LB.
AUB, MIS, UK, VU were not ranked in either category.

Team	DL	LB	Front 7
ALA	4	1	5
UTX	5	3	8
SCA	3	12	15
UF	9	10	19
FSU	1	18	19
ND	15	5	20
NEB	11	9	20
OU	19	2	21
LSU	10	15	25
PSU	8	20	28
USC	13	16	29
BSU	6	24	30
MIA	7	23	30
ASU	23	7	30
OSU	12	29	31
UNC	2	33	35
ARK	22	13	35
UGA	8	29	37
TCU	36	6	42
VAT	32	11	44
TCU	36	6	42
PIT	14	30	44
MIZ	26	21	47
CAL	20	29	49

 

[Buster Bluth]

haha That information is great and all, but I don't need Phil Steele to think that I'd take Johnson, Cwynar/Nix, Lewis-Moore, and Shembo, Te'o, Fox/Calabrese, and Fleming over the front sevens of any team Notre Dame plays. That's really all that matters to me.

When is the last time you've seen a Notre Dame team dominate in the trenches like this? It's insane that they are 0-2, but being 120th in turnovers will do that to you. The switch will flip gentlemen, and they will roll teams. I'm not saying it'll happen in the Michigan State game, but it will happen shortly.

 

[Spartan96]

Golden Tate via Twitter:

Huh? Ok I don't get it? Was this after Little Giants last year and our TE "jumping" into the ND band? By jumping...I mean celebrating a walk-off TD in the end zone since the band had all congregated there.

 

[Spartan96]

they aren't for this game. they're for later in the season.

Yup, those are reserved for our annual drubbing of the maize and blue.

 

[BurningRiver]

Huh? Ok I don't get it? Was this after Little Giants last year and our TE "jumping" into the ND band? By jumping...I mean celebrating a walk-off TD in the end zone since the band had all congregated there.

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Fg-76xzGABE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

i loved this, but how was this NOT unsportsmanlike conduct??

 

[Riddickulous]

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Fg-76xzGABE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

i loved this, but how was this NOT unsportsmanlike conduct??

Here's a list of excuses:

- He had been been sprinting down the field and had about 3-4 steps to come to a complete stop
- Didn't want to truck some poor fellow (or fellowess)
- Thought it was ND's band and that they would catch him
- Because he's Golden ****ing Tate, that's why

 

[beryirish]

From the way it's looking...I'll be there!! Gonna be electric!

 

[TheTurningPoint]

I will be in the building for this one!! It will be the game where everything comes together...and 5 years from now it will be the game that everyone will point too. Mark it down.

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

I will be in the building for this one!! It will be the game where everything comes together...and 5 years from now it will be the game that everyone will point too. Mark it down.

THIS!

 

[BabyIrish]

I will be in the building for this one!! It will be the game where everything comes together...and 5 years from now it will be the game that everyone will point too. Mark it down.

I hope so, but I am really nervous about this game, especially since I won't be able to watch the game.

 

[Old Man Mike]

This game, in one sense, is just like the first two: we are plenty capable of not only winning the game but seeming to control it. BUT, will we get rid of the Unholy Three game destroyers that we inflict ourselves with [Turnovers/Net punting yards/Penalties]? As one writer said: Notre Dame is the Lindsay Lohan of college football --- bewitching to look at but engaged in continuous self-destructive behavior.

Let's hope that this is the game "Lindsay" leaves the building for good. Our Lady would approve of that.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Just got two free tickets for the game! My CEO has season tickets and can't make it. Super pumped now!!

 

[phork]

ND 42 MSU 17

 

[Irish4Life09]

ND 42 MSU 17

THIS!!!
+1,000,000

I think it'll be more like 34-13

 

[TerryTate]

Not predicting this week. I've jinxed us too many times.

 

[RallySonsOfND]

Any of you vRich fellas feeling vGenerous? grin:

I am vBroke after last weekends game and betting it all on the Irish...

 

[tankjeep]

I hope so, but I am really nervous about this game, especially since I won't be able to watch the game.

not me. this is going to be smash/mouth in your face nd football at its finest.

 

[phork]

Sparty is already starting to whine. Narduzzi is claiming that we steal their defensive signals.

MSU football: Were the Irish stealing signals? | Lansing State Journal | lansingstatejournal.com

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Sparty is already starting to whine. Narduzzi is claiming that we steal their defensive signals.

MSU football: Were the Irish stealing signals? | Lansing State Journal | lansingstatejournal.com

What a douche nozzle. They've dominated the series against us, ripped our hearts out last season in an overtime victory, and their DC still feels the need to fire this petty crap at us?

I hope someone's on hand with a brown paper bag for Narduzzi after the Irish hang 40+ on his sophomore-filled defense.

 

[NYIrish14]

Todd McShay and Mel Kiper were asked this morning on ESPN how many wins ND will finish with. McShay says 8 and Kiper says 9. However, McShay thinks we beat MSU this weekend. Both like ND.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

Wrap that damn brown paper bag around his head..

Crush this whole university and re-plant the ND flag.. This is our ****ing house.

 

[Spartan96]

OK, just a bit of data to consider before you make any Vegas "prediction" a foregone conclusion:

MSU is 10-3-1 ATS(against the spread) against ND in the last 14 games
MSU is 10-4 straight up against ND in the last 14 games
MSU is 6-1 straight up at ND the last 7 road games
ND is 0-5 ATS in the last 5 games at home against MSU

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

History in college football does more for the fans than the players.

These teams are completely different every 2-3 years.. A few young difference makers, a few good coaching calls and the tide turns.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

OK, just a bit of data to consider before you make any Vegas "prediction" a foregone conclusion:

MSU is 10-3-1 ATS(against the spread) against ND in the last 14 games
MSU is 10-4 straight up against ND in the last 14 games
MSU is 6-1 straight up at ND the last 7 road games
ND is 0-5 ATS in the last 5 games at home against MSU

You're absolutely right. State always seems to have a fundamentally sound and balanced football team. ND hasn't had a fundamentally sound and balanced football team since Holtz left. Thus, you've beaten us pretty consistently.

That's not the case anymore, though. ND now has a fundamentally sound and balanced team. You won a nail biter last year because, in Dantonio's 4th year, your Spartans were more mentally tough; thus, you performed in crunch time while we didn't.

If the TOs, penalties, and defensive breakdowns during crunch time continue, MSU probably wins. If ND pulls it's sh!t together, the Vegas line makes sense.

 

[IrishLax]

OK, just a bit of data to consider before you make any Vegas "prediction" a foregone conclusion:

MSU is 10-3-1 ATS(against the spread) against ND in the last 14 games
MSU is 10-4 straight up against ND in the last 14 games
MSU is 6-1 straight up at ND the last 7 road games
ND is 0-5 ATS in the last 5 games at home against MSU

I don't know what you're talking about. MSU was -3.5 last year against Notre Dame. The only reason I know this is that I won a hundred bucks on the spread in Vegas.

 

[BGIF]

Any of you vRich fellas feeling vGenerous? grin:

I am vBroke after last weekends game and betting it all on the Irish...

Have you said, "Thank you, phork!"

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

I don't know what you're talking about. MSU was -3.5 last year against Notre Dame. The only reason I know this is that I won a hundred bucks on the spread in Vegas.

0-5 in last 5 at ND Stadium

 

[Whiskeyjack]

rakesofmallow via twitter:

It's Michigan State week. If you haven't re-listened to Mike Valenti's 2006 rant yet, please do: http://bit.ly/Jux51 #neverforget #pucker

It's hilarious. Have a listen if you've got time.