2020 Week Four Prediction Poll (Louisville @ ND)

[gkIrish]

Spread is ND -17.5

Votes are public.

Sorry I missed last week.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Despite the record from losing two close games and a fourth quarter collapse last Saturday, SP+ thinks Louisville is pretty solid: 41st overall. It's a huge differential though, they're 12th in offense and 96th in defense.

I was very happy with the FSU game because ND looked good in the areas I was most concerned about. I'd like to see them take another step forward and tighten up the defense against a very strong offense.

 

[notredomer23]

Louisville has been the biggest disappointment of the season for me so far. I thought they were going to compete with UNC for third best team in ACC, but their defense can't stop anybody. Atwell, Hawkins, and Cunningham are solid, but think if we play a clean game we should roll pretty easily.

 

[DONTH8]

I think we cover. Last year I remember their offense started fast and then Lea made adjustments and we won the game comfortably in the end. With more film to prepare with, and the experience of last year, I expect our defense to be a bit better than last year.

Offensively, we should score the ball consistently, and hopefully we avoid the turnovers that cost us this last game.

Score will be something like 42-20.

 

[GreenGemsOmally]

Despite the record from losing two close games and a fourth quarter collapse last Saturday, SP+ thinks Louisville is pretty solid: 41st overall. It's a huge differential though, they're 12th in offense and 96th in defense.

I was very happy with the FSU game because ND looked good in the areas I was most concerned about. I'd like to see them take another step forward and tighten up the defense against a very strong offense.

On rewatches, I feel exactly the same. I think a lot of the struggles early on can be attributed to two major things:

a) Florida State has some pretty impressive athletes that have been stuck in a garbage system, and Mike Norvell is just starting to actually coach out decent performance from his highly talented athletes. Settling on their QB too seemed to really help and they've got multiple guys we are going to be seeing on Sundays in the near future.

b) COVID has hit ND really hard and having multiple weeks off made ND super rusty. The defense had struggles tackling, few untimely turnovers giving FSU 10 points, but once the rust wore off ND really took control of the game. Going up 16 points allowed ND to really go into cruise control and I think we probably could have been even more aggressive and scored on the last drive if we wanted to. Rees just wanted to burn clock and limit the risk of injuries, and FSU still could barely stop the run.

Barring other weird 2020esque issues, I think the game vs Louisville will be the most complete against a "decent" opponent yet and I expect we'll dominate from the start.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Louisville has been the biggest disappointment of the season for me so far. I thought they were going to compete with UNC for third best team in ACC, but their defense can't stop anybody. Atwell, Hawkins, and Cunningham are solid, but think if we play a clean game we should roll pretty easily.

Same. I think ND covers, but Louisville will score probably 20 points. I just don't see how Louisville's D stops the offense any more than FSU did. So unless the team makes uncharacteristic mistakes again like last Saturday, ND should cover the spread.

45-20 is what I've got

 

[NDBoiler]

42-14

Get some

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I think the D will come out sharper now that we are back into somewhat of a rhythm after the CV-19 break.

Agree with other that L'ville has a tough offense, but we roll with Williams, Tyree and our TEs.

41-17

 

[tko]

Travis was a good warmup for Cunningham, although Cunningham is a better passer I believe.

 

[Irish YJ]

Voted 18-25. We should roll after shaking the rust.


Louisville give us more pts (but less yards) than FSU.

 

[GATTACA!]

38-14

Young guys get some playing time.

 

[arrowryan]

I really like what Rees is doing with the offense and they have a strong identity now. I could see 45-50 from the offense.

 

[Irish2155]

I think we cover. Last year I remember their offense started fast and then Lea made adjustments and we won the game comfortably in the end. With more film to prepare with, and the experience of last year, I expect our defense to be a bit better than last year.

Offensively, we should score the ball consistently, and hopefully we avoid the turnovers that cost us this last game.

Score will be something like 42-20.

Last year I remember being police escorted out of Papa Johns during the first quarter. Lol. Dad and my buddy got to stay though!!!

Oh, back on topic - yeah, ND by A LOT. This is the week where it all comes together and we’re off and running...

Bartender across the stadium was an amazing watch buddy btw. 😊

 

[IrishBryan77]

I think we cover this game.

Notre Dame 46
Louisville 24

Could be closer depending on if the Cards can get pressure on Book. He still looks scared shitless in the pocket.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Book looked a lot more composed back there against FSU. Granted, FSU's front is nothing special, but UL's is horrid.

I think we continue to lean on the running game, Book gets comfortable and picks them apart and ND looks cleaner, but still a bit rusty.

ND 49-28

 

[DONTH8]

Last year I remember being police escorted out of Papa Johns during the first quarter. Lol. Dad and my buddy got to stay though!!!

Oh, back on topic - yeah, ND by A LOT. This is the week where it all comes together and we’re off and running...

Bartender across the stadium was an amazing watch buddy btw. 😊

Sounds like a successful night to me.

Thinking about it now, I forgot about the girl that broke her nose from Book's throw. Wonder if they will bring that up during the broadcast at all.

 

[gkIrish]

I was pretty confident we would beat FSU by 35 and that didn't happen but I don't really respect Louisville either. I think we win by 27ish.

 

[Luckylucci]

I went 18-25 because I think we'll score 40+ on their defense, this offense seems to be humming right now. However, I think it's going to take multiple weeks to get the defense straightened out. I think we need guys to get into better competitive shape than just X's and O's.

 

[arrowryan]

I went 18-25 because I think we'll score 40+ on their defense, this offense seems to be humming right now. However, I think it's going to take multiple weeks to get the defense straightened out. I think we need guys to get into better competitive shape than just X's and O's.

I thought the defense played okay against FSU. Doesn't help that the offense/special teams gifted FSU 10 points. But I agree, they can play much better.

 

[Luckylucci]

I thought the defense played okay against FSU. Doesn't help that the offense/special teams gifted FSU 10 points. But I agree, they can play much better.

I'd call it like a C+ and if that is okay, then I agree. They were dealt a tough hand on a couple of those possessions but there is a lot there to improve upon. If you back out the points and just look at stats, it was still an uncharacteristically rough day. Travis and Webb avg. 4.84 yds/carry. Travis avg. 8.5 yds/att which isn't great but it's better than Book's 2018 season yds/att number. Which gives you an idea that it's starting to push up into the good/really good arena.

And, after a re-watch, the drive before half was pretty ugly. Then to get the rest at half, which is what I thought they needed, and to give up the TD right out of halftime, that's inexcusable, IMO. If the offense wasn't up to task to answer both those drives with TD's of their own, that game feels a lot different.

Consider this, if Book doesn't put together the best 2 minute drill he ever has (truly some of the best football he's ever played) to score before half, it's a 20-28 ball game going in. Then they score the TD out of half and kick the extra point. Now it's a 27-28 game. That feels a lot different all because Book was a Rockstar inside 1 minute.