2013 predictions

[NDWorld247]

What I don't get is that everyone thinks, for the most part, that we will be better this year in all phases of the game. So if we were 12-0 last year, how can one think we will be better yet lose more games?

Also, are any of our opponents significantly better? I think Stanford will be better and ASU > Miami, but besides those two, are any of the others better than 2012?

 

[LoveThee]

Also, are any of our opponents significantly better? I think Stanford will be better and ASU > Miami, but besides those two, are any of the others better than 2012?

I think its part of the inferiority complex ND fans have developed from the last few decades. Nobody wants to get too optimistic and be let down

 

[Irish Insanity]

Also, are any of our opponents significantly better? I think Stanford will be better and ASU > Miami, but besides those two, are any of the others better than 2012?

I guess, to me, if Stanford was our toughest opponent last year and we beat them, then any team that is considered not as good as Stanford last year would be a W. So basically that leaves only Stanford as a question mark.

 

[Riddickulous]

I guess, to me, if Stanford was our toughest opponent last year and we beat them, then any team that is considered not as good as Stanford last year would be a W. So basically that leaves only Stanford as a question mark.

College football doesn't work this way.

 

[STLDomer]

Also, are any of our opponents significantly better? I think Stanford will be better and ASU > Miami, but besides those two, are any of the others better than 2012?

Michigan will be tougher. OU is TBD in my opinion. USC should be tougher but w/ Kiffin who knows.

 

[rocket66]

Preseason Stanford has a lot of love. We'll see what the actual Stanford really looks like. I'm not convinced they'll be that great.

 

[DillonHall]

I don't necessarily see ASU as a trap game, if only because it's in Dallas and they have the new uniforms to keep our guys focused. We've always come out and blown out the other team in the Shamrock Series games.

 

[Irish Insanity]

College football doesn't work this way.

Meaning if there aren't any teams on our schedule this year that are better than Stanford was last year, and the people making these predictions say we are better in all phases, how can they accompany that with a 3 loss prediction.

 

[T Town Tommy]

The Michigan game - even being the only the second game - will be the game that determines the rest of the season for the Irish. Win that game and I think the Irish can make it to OU undefeated. The OU game will determine if ND goes on to a 10-2 11-1 type season and a berth in a BCS bowl. I say the Irish gets it done and meets S.Carolina in the Sugar Bowl.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

11-2 with a BCS bowl win.

I do believe that the combination of Kelly riding the figurative football lecture circuit, losing to Alabama partly due to schematic simplicity, and Tommy Rees under center indicate that ND is going to show a whole lot more offensive variety this year.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Meaning if there aren't any teams on our schedule this year that are better than Stanford was last year, and the people making these predictions say we are better in all phases, how can they accompany that with a 3 loss prediction.

Well, on a 12 game schedule, even if a team is a 90% favorite for each individual contest they only have about a 30% chance of going undefeated.

0.9^12 x 100 = 28.24%

But I've been drinking so I may be doing this all wrong.

 

[NDWorld247]

Michigan will be tougher. OU is TBD in my opinion. USC should be tougher but w/ Kiffin who knows.

I'll give you Michigan. I think OU has some major questions on D and not having Landry will set the offense back a bit, but their OL should be nasty. It will be interesting to see how USC does this year.

I don't necessarily see ASU as a trap game, if only because it's in Dallas and they have the new uniforms to keep our guys focused. We've always come out and blown out the other team in the Shamrock Series games.

I agree on ASU not being a trap game. They will just be very difficult to beat.

The Michigan game - even being the only the second game - will be the game that determines the rest of the season for the Irish. Win that game and I think the Irish can make it to OU undefeated. The OU game will determine if ND goes on to a 10-2 11-1 type season and a berth in a BCS bowl. I say the Irish gets it done and meets S.Carolina in the Sugar Bowl.

Agree on Michigan. A win there and the dream of reaching the NCG is intact. Lose and Kelly's job of keeping the team together and spirits high becomes a lot tougher.

 

[Irish Insanity]

I'll give you Michigan. I think OU has some major questions on D and not having Landry will set the offense back a bit, but their OL should be nasty. It will be interesting to see how USC does this year.

I was watching (I think) College Football Live earlier and they said OU is only returning 1 of its front 4 D Lineman I believe.

 

[NDPhilly]

We should have a field day running on OU. There front 7 is pretty bad.

 

[STLDomer]

Taylor Kelly has the potential (not saying he will) to tear us apart. Best QB we will face IMO

 

[NDWorld247]

Taylor Kelly has the potential (not saying he will) to tear us apart. Best QB we will face IMO

I put him behind Kevin Hogan, but your point is a good one. He's a stud.

Which brings up another good discussion. For all of the hate that Reesus has endured on this board since the Golson news, he's still near the top of the list in terms of QBs we face this year.

I think it's:

1. Hogan
2. Kelly
3a. Gardner
3b. Rees

I think Gardner is probably a better QB long-term, but I wouldn't trade him for Rees this season. Hogan and Kelly are the only two I'd ship Rees off for this year.

 

[condoms SUCk]

I'll say 11-1 (lose to Stanford) or 10-2 (lose to Mich and Sanford).
Tommy will have a 3:1 TD:INT ratio
GA will have over 10 rushing TD's
Our TE's will have more recieving TD's than our RB's
Our punt return won't be any better than last year.
Our secondary will have twice as many int's than last year.

 

[stlnd01]

9-3 or 10-2.

I agree that Michigan will be better than they were last year and ASU's a trap.
Stanford will be at least as good as they were last year, and let's be honest, that game could have gone either way. But we match up well for a slugfest and Hogan will not have seen a pass rush like ours, except maybe in the Cardinal and White Game.
No idea what to make of OU or USC. Both are talented but flawed, and will probably hinge on things you can't predict right now - health and mindset of the team.
MSU will be down. We should win that one.
BYU and Pitt are always dangerous.

On paper, today, we should be favored in all but Stanford. But we were 'dogs in, what, four games last year that we won? So what's that worth? I just don't see us getting all the breaks we got/made in 2012, and I do think losing Golson will cost us a game somewhere.

Make me pick and I think we lose to Michigan and Stanford, with a third in there if Rees reverts to later 2011 form or we get hit with injuries in the wrong places.

 

[IrishHokie22]

8-4.

I would have went 10-2 if we still had Golson. Not trying to be Negative Nellie, but I have serious doubts about the offense with Tommy Rees at QB. He's just too limited in what he can do. He can't make plays with his feet and he doesn't have much of an arm. Just seems like our offense will be predictable and easy to prepare for. Yes, he's smart and knows the playbook like the back of his hand; I just think that's only going to get him so far.

The defense is really good though. I think it'll be better than last season's actually. It should be good enough to keep us in most games, but I don't think it'll be enough to push us to double-digit wins.

I really hope I'm underestimating Rees and the offense.

 

[nvirish]

I just talked to a bar tender who's brother is a coach at ASU and he said that they have been very unhappy with the team so far. Don't shoot the messenger just what I heard tonight in Sacramento.

 

[TheRealLynch51]

IMO, we drop to Stanford and some other random late schedule game, go 10-2, get a BCS matchup, and pound Georgia and Keith Marshall till he decides that he dun ****ed up and made the wrong choice for his collegiate career. (as written in the book of Reesus)

 

[BillyIrish]

If the offense can protect the football and find a way to be efficient in the red zone I find it hard to believe this team doesn't go 10-2. Tommy's struggles taking care of the football are the obvious talking point but, I am equally concerned with the ball security of the backs. GA3 has laid it on the game in spring games. Carlisle certainly hasn't had much contact over the last year plus. Freshman ball carriers often seem to have ball security issues.

Defensively we know the front 7 is going to be outstanding. The area I am concerned with is communication in the secondary. It cannot be understated how valuable hayseed and zeke were in making sure everyone was on the same page. Who is going to take charge back there.

I don't think running the table is out of the question, but I just don't see it. I'll go with 10-2 and a BCS game. I think week 2 at Michigan is the swing game. Should be able to handle the other 3 prior to Oklahoma. Win at Michigan and this will be a group that gets that swagger back.

 

[BabyIrish]

Notre Dame football: No luck in 2013 for Irish - South Bend Tribune: Football

I just can't see us losing 5 games this year

 

[NDGOLDEN]

NCAA College Football BCS Bowl Projections - Preseason - ESPN
Apparently ESPN doesnt like us too much. Schlabach has us going to new era pinstripe bowl and brad edwards has us going to the S.D. County Credit Union Poinsettia
bowl

 

[condoms SUCk]

But it dawned on me that I'm sick in the head with hate for Michigan, because I discovered that I'd rather lose to USC than Michigan this year.

You're not alone, I have an unhealthy rage and hate for Michigan. Mainly b/c I live in NW Indiana and I interact with their fan base more than I do U$C fans. Also losing those three close games didn't really help.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

I must need some more kool aid, 9-3. Losses to Michigan and Standford and with a drop to BYU or ASU. Trap games not at home.

I thought BYU was at home...

It better be. I have tickets.

 

[NDdomer2]

It better be. I have tickets.

hey just found out I am going to this game as well!

 

[Kanye West]

10-3 to 13-0.

 

[ACamp1900]

7-5

 

[Irish Insanity]

14-0