2018 Record Prediction

[Ndaccountant]

Haven't seen one yet and if I have missed it, well, time for a new one.

I can't help but think back to one of the most underappreciated rock songs when trying to predict this year...

California sunlight
Sweet Calcutta rain
Honolulu starbright
The song remains the same

10-3 and the swirl remains....not bad enough to make a program overhaul but not good enough to feel like a top 5 program. ND wins a bowl game after going 9-3, but not really beating anyone of note during the year.

Votes are public

 

[IrishInFl]

8-5. I just don't see losing the top tackle and guard in the draft, and getting better. Let's hope I'm wrong.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I'm calling it now, kool-aid has been DRANK.

We make the playoffs, and lose to one of Clemson/Bama/UGA.

This defense is going to be legit. Clark Lea has the advantage of calling a defense for the first time with an impressively veteran cast, and he will only get better as the year goes on. Let's not forget he was Elko's #1 wingman for many years for a reason, and I'm sure he's paid very close attention to his style/strategy waiting for this opportunity for a long time. I'm excited for Coach Lea's tenure.

Wimbush will improve dramatically this year, as many second year starters do. He is throwing to so many impressive athletes, with size across the board, I see a lot of mismatches being exploited by Long/BK, especially in the red-zone, where Wimbush has already shined in his career. Offense will improve in Oct/Nov with Dex returning, and Jones/youngsters et al should keep the rushing attack balanced enough in September.

I'm not worried about the OL. We will digress slightly by replacing MM and Q, but anytime you have the #1 OL in the country, you are going to digress. We have recruited well there, and still have quality depth.

Growing pains should be expected offensively, especially week 1 against Michigan, but I expect an ugly win there, and they will gel as September moves along. I think we will be scary good by the time we roll into VT. If we escape Blacksburg 1 or less losses on the schedule, the playoff hype should be real.

 

[IrishFanJMercy]

I think we lose 1 or 2 games, I don't think we will beat USC this year just a gut feeling

 

[BobbyMac]

Sticking with 9.5 - 2.5.

 

[Rack Em]

8-4 regular season with a meaningless bowl game win to go 9-4.

Losses to Michigan, VT, Northwestern, and USC

 

[dkuhn12]

8-4 regular season with a meaningless bowl game win to go 9-4.

Losses to Michigan, VT, Northwestern, and USC

This ☝️


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[koonja]

8-4 regular season with a meaningless bowl game win to go 9-4.

Losses to Michigan, VT, Northwestern, and USC

Damn that feels real.

 

[BobbyMac]

Half the posters in this thread think Kelly is getting fired.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

8-4 regular season with a meaningless bowl game win to go 9-4.

Losses to Michigan, VT, Northwestern, and USC

I just threw up in my mouth a little.

Coaching search is on in this scenario, IMO.

 

[gkIrish]

Either 9-3 plus a bowl loss or 8-4 with a bowl win. Don't see more than 2 wins between USC, Michigan, Stanford, and Virginia Tech. Think we lose another game between Northwestern and Florida State. Things could get really bad if Michigan smokes us.

 

[NDohio]

Half the posters in this thread want Kelly to get fired.

FIFY

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I've been waiting for this thread to start, that way I can see who the real babies are in here.

11-2 (or better).

 

[Blaise]

Half the posters in this thread think Kelly is getting fired.

Half the posters will think Kelly is getting fired if they go 11-1

 

[arahop]

13-1. The "echoes" will be awoken. I believe in Wimbush. Source... my gut

 

[BobbyMac]

I've been waiting for this thread to start, that way I can see who the real babies are in here.

11-2 (or better).

ACamp will be rolling out of his crib anytime now and will throw down a 6-6 before he even changes his diaper.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

I see 9-4 with a bowl win. Losses to USC, Stanford, Michigan, and FSU. If the QB play is better than last year, I see 11 wins.

 

[BobbyMac]

I see 9-4 with a bowl win. Losses to USC, Stanford, Michigan, and FSU. If the QB play is better than last year, I see 11 wins.

That will usher in the Joe Moorhead of Jeff Brohm era because Kelly gets fired for those 3 home losses and deservedly so.

But Mike Elston winning the Pinstripe Bowl over Iowa or Nebraska was a nice touch.

 

[Luckylucci]

10-3. Regular season 9-3 with a bowl W for 10. I think the defense will be very good and should keep us in all games. Partly because of this, whether its Wimbush or Book we can win 10. If it’s an improved Wimbush, the W’s could be higher.

 

[RDU Irish]

I think we lose two regular season games, just miss the playoffs and look good in a top tier bowl win. Our defense is too good and offense more than adequate to be a Top 10 team.

 

[greyhammer90]

10-3, 9-3 regular season. I dislike preseason predictions that ask me to decide who wins a bowl game where I don't even know who we're playing. 9-3 ND could be playing anyone from a down-year Alabama to a streaking Iowa State.

 

[snoopdog]

13-1

run the table in the season....win 1st playoff game....lose championship game

 

[Ndaccountant]

10-3. Regular season 9-3 with a bowl W for 10. I think the defense will be very good and should keep us in all games. Partly because of this, whether its Wimbush or Book we can win 10. If it’s an improved Wimbush, the W’s could be higher.

I am with you on this. The defense will be pretty good if they can remain relatively healthy. With our schedule, there isn't one team that I look at and think ND will have to play flawlessly to keep under 28 points. So in reality, the offense doesn't need to get to 40 points per game to win 10. I think the offense will be up and down enough to lose 2/3 in the regular season.

 

[beryirish]

 

[NDohio]

I am all in on this being a lot like 2012...a defense that is going to be a lot of fun to watch and will lead this team to some victories we might not fully deserve...a QB situation that has an athletic, dynamic, yet flawed starter that can be relieved by a technical gamer when necessary...solid depth that will help our special team's group be better than usual...

Playoffs or bust!!!

 

[stlnd01]

10-2, with a close loss to either Stanford or VT and then a soul-killing, playoff-thwarting defeat to end the season at USC. Top ten defense, good-enough offense, but not quite the weapons to keep up with late-season USC.

We make an NY6 bowl, but Michigan and FSU have down years so “we didn’t beat anyone.” There’s renewed grumbling that BK can’t get us to the next level. So he jumps (before the bowl game) to be the next head coach at Michigan, and leads them to the 2020 national championship, while we whiff on our top three coaching choices, hire PJ Fleck and spend the next decade wandering the wilderness again.

Enjoy it now, guys.

 

[T Town Tommy]

9-3 regular season with a win over Okla St in a bowl game. Back to back 10 wins seasons is a success for most any program. It isn't as easy as one thinks and serves as a great catalyst in to the following season where a preseason top five ranking and playoff aspirations await the Irish.

 

[Wild Bill]

9-3.

Competitive team that drops three close games playing a seemingly difficult schedule. The last five games are just brutal with respect to travel - San Diego to play Navy, IL to play NW, at home against FSU, Syracuse at Yankee Stadium and then back to CA to play USC.

 

[Luckylucci]

9-3.

Competitive team that drops three close games playing a seemingly difficult schedule. The last five games are just brutal with respect to travel - San Diego to play Navy, IL to play NW, at home against FSU, Syracuse at Yankee Stadium and then back to CA to play USC.

In a vacuum those teams don't have me worried, but the travel is the key. I doubt there will be a team in the country that travels that much over the same 5 weeks.

 

[Irish#1]

Sticking with 9.5 - 2.5.

Fudging is for wimps.

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