2021 Week Two Prediction Poll: Toledo @ (8) Notre Dame

[Some Irish Bloke]

Toledo @ #8 ND
Saturday, September 11
2:30 PM
Not NBC -_-

Lay down those predictions, votes are public:

 

[Irish du Nord]

38-14 Irish

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Toledo brings a veteran team that took advantage of the COVID-19 eligibility rule and brings back 21 of 22 starters from the 4-2 MAC-only 2020 season.

I think Coan's coming out party @ FSU last week is going to pay dividends to our run game. Florida St. keyed on the run all evening and that allowed Coan to take advantage of a lot of one on one matchups throughout the game (even one on zero, see Mayer's first TD). I expect Toledo to respect his arm and play with less in the box. Hopefully the ND Oline is much improved uses their size advantage at the line of scrimmage to open up some gaps for Williams and Tyree (Diggs?!) to run through. I don't anticipate having an issue putting up some points against Toledo. Although their defense does appear to have veteran playmakers at all three levels, I just can't see them keeping up with our offensive weapons for 60 minutes, especially if we establish the run better than we did last weekend.

Defensively, we need to be prepared for another dual QB attack; their "starter," Bradley, has an accurate arm and showed it off last week with an efficient 8/12 outing for 183 yards and 1 TD against lowly Norfolk St. Their other QB, Finn, is similar to Jordan Travis. You still have to respect his arm, but he is slippery and one of their most dangerous runners. Look for him to run some of the read option that gave us fits last week in Tallahassee. They also have a very proven RB in Bryant Koback who has run for over 2,600 yards in his career and 32 scores.

Ultimately, as I've said in other threads, if we boat-raced FSU last week I'd be a little more worried about this game coming off of a short week of preparation. However, I think BK, Freeman, Rees and the rest of the staff are well prepared and challenged their guys to prepare well for a veteran squad. We have an athletic advantage in just about every facet of the game, and I think it will show itself after a tough, hard fought first 20 minutes.

ND leads by 10 at the half, but runs away in the 2nd: ND wins, 48-24

 

[notredomer23]

Toledo keeps it close for a while. ND wins 49-28. Everyone overreacts about the defense again.

 

[Irish#1]

O-line still needs to gel, but starts to get in sync late in the third allowing the Irish to finally get a little breathing room, but not much as they win by 10

 

[Uoftoledofans]

Home opener excitement jitters, plus in house weirdness with transfering players and injuries, plus the death of many by execution and a short week... Rockets 35- Irish 31.

If not all that crap... Rockets 27- Irish 40.

Injuries, and bad turnover luck is the way i see ND rolling big.

 

[Valpodoc85]

Too much talent. ND by 21. Freshman see some game time

 

[T-Boone]

31-3 ND

 

[ACamp1900]

8 points wasn’t near enough dawg,… but thanks for the thought nonetheless,..

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Is it possible that Aaron's singular troll vote in each of these polls is keeping the home win streak alive?

EDIT: Nevermind, RackEm ensured it wasn't singular this time. If Toledo beats us, I'm blaming Willie.

 

[Catholics_Rule]

I think it's possible to see quite a bit of scoring. This Toledo team has a ton of starters returning so they will certainly come to play. I hope the team gets ahead early to get more players on the field but our Fighting Irish sometimes keep these games too close for comfort like Ball State a couple of seasons ago.

I liked seeing QB Jack Coan push the ball down the field on 3rd and short many times last week against Florida State and would expect to see more tomorrow afternoon. I'm sure most concerns are on the defensive side of the ball but overall the Fighting Irish should be too much for the Rockets to handle.

Notre Dame 41 Toledo 24

Go Irish!

 

[Rack Em]

Is it possible that Aaron's singular troll vote in each of these polls is keeping the home win streak alive?

EDIT: Nevermind, RackEm ensured it wasn't singular this time. If Toledo beats us, I'm blaming Willie.

I voted against us in every game last year and we won every single game.

Don’t mess with my jewjew

 

[Irishnuke]

45-10 ND

 

[Armyirish47]

I voted we win by 21 and I regret it, but I'm going to backdoor my way to it anyway. At first glance Toledo brings back a ton of experience from a winning team, should be meaningful right? NOT SO FAST MY FRIEN. Those wins came against teams that combined to go 5 - 18. Giga woof. The only two teams they played that had winning records beat them. Their QB likes to throw picks, their line likes to give up sacks in bunches, AND I've heard rumor they didn't actually fly in a rocket to South Bend? Bunch of poseurs.

So I think we go full bombs away with the Coan Express while our defense mercilessly punishes their poor QBs in decidedly less humid conditions that keeps our front 4 fresh, our LBs playing comfortably, and our DBs practicing tip drills all afternoon. We jump out to a 38 - 7 lead in the 3rd when BK calls off the dogs and we get to see some of our young guys get after it. Toledo keeps playing their super experienced not very good football players until the end so we finish at 45 - 24.

We're on to Purdue.

 

[DogDaysIrish]

Toledo brings a veteran team that took advantage of the COVID-19 eligibility rule and brings back 21 of 22 starters from the 4-2 MAC-only 2020 season.

I think Coan's coming out party @ FSU last week is going to pay dividends to our run game. Florida St. keyed on the run all evening and that allowed Coan to take advantage of a lot of one on one matchups throughout the game (even one on zero, see Mayer's first TD). I expect Toledo to respect his arm and play with less in the box. Hopefully the ND Oline is much improved uses their size advantage at the line of scrimmage to open up some gaps for Williams and Tyree (Diggs?!) to run through. I don't anticipate having an issue putting up some points against Toledo. Although their defense does appear to have veteran playmakers at all three levels, I just can't see them keeping up with our offensive weapons for 60 minutes, especially if we establish the run better than we did last weekend.

Defensively, we need to be prepared for another dual QB attack; their "starter," Bradley, has an accurate arm and showed it off last week with an efficient 8/12 outing for 183 yards and 1 TD against lowly Norfolk St. Their other QB, Finn, is similar to Jordan Travis. You still have to respect his arm, but he is slippery and one of their most dangerous runners. Look for him to run some of the read option that gave us fits last week in Tallahassee. They also have a very proven RB in Bryant Koback who has run for over 2,600 yards in his career and 32 scores.

Ultimately, as I've said in other threads, if we boat-raced FSU last week I'd be a little more worried about this game coming off of a short week of preparation. However, I think BK, Freeman, Rees and the rest of the staff are well prepared and challenged their guys to prepare well for a veteran squad. We have an athletic advantage in just about every facet of the game, and I think it will show itself after a tough, hard fought first 20 minutes.

ND leads by 10 at the half, but runs away in the 2nd: ND wins, 48-24

I have a prediction. If Peacock is this bad the night before a crap game, I can only imagine what tomorrow will present. Not very optimistic.

 

[Uoftoledofans]

I voted we win by 21 and I regret it, but I'm going to backdoor my way to it anyway. At first glance Toledo brings back a ton of experience from a winning team, should be meaningful right? NOT SO FAST MY FRIEN. Those wins came against teams that combined to go 5 - 18. Giga woof. The only two teams they played that had winning records beat them. Their QB likes to throw picks, their line likes to give up sacks in bunches, AND I've heard rumor they didn't actually fly in a rocket to South Bend? Bunch of poseurs.

So I think we go full bombs away with the Coan Express while our defense mercilessly punishes their poor QBs in decidedly less humid conditions that keeps our front 4 fresh, our LBs playing comfortably, and our DBs practicing tip drills all afternoon. We jump out to a 38 - 7 lead in the 3rd when BK calls off the dogs and we get to see some of our young guys get after it. Toledo keeps playing their super experienced not very good football players until the end so we finish at 45 - 24.

We're on to Purdue.

Fair, but Buffalo and Ball State ended up ranked after beating other CUSA and MWC Champs in bowl games. So 2 for 2 OOC as a league in 2020. Took a prevent D, onside kick, fake spike, inadvertant whistle to lose a 99.9% win expectancy in the last 2:10 of WMU game to lose that by 3. And came back to lose to Ball State by 3 while driving in their territory in the final 1:30.

2020... Thats a start stop season with all new Defensive coords and coaches with no spring ball. Going from 8th to 2nd in total D and 10th to 3rd in scoring D... I dont hate it! Also Return 21 of 22 starters (if Holt and Anderson play), and a QB who has like 6-8 starts in his career as one of the "non starters."

Sagarin although not connected has yall 8.5 pt favorites. Points are to be had. The entire playbook was under wraps last week. Dont be too shocked when its 17-17. ND could very well pull away from that point but 38 to 7 seems VERY unlikely....

 

[Irishize]

Fair, but Buffalo and Ball State ended up ranked after beating other CUSA and MWC Champs in bowl games. So 2 for 2 OOC as a league in 2020. Took a prevent D, onside kick, fake spike, inadvertant whistle to lose a 99.9% win expectancy in the last 2:10 of WMU game to lose that by 3. And came back to lose to Ball State by 3 while driving in their territory in the final 1:30.

2020... Thats a start stop season with all new Defensive coords and coaches with no spring ball. Going from 8th to 2nd in total D and 10th to 3rd in scoring D... I dont hate it! Also Return 21 of 22 starters (if Holt and Anderson play), and a QB who has like 6-8 starts in his career as one of the "non starters."

Sagarin although not connected has yall 8.5 pt favorites. Points are to be had. The entire playbook was under wraps last week. Dont be too shocked when its 17-17. ND could very well pull away from that point but 38 to 7 seems VERY unlikely....

Yeah, I tend to agree b/c ND loves to play down to their competition. I wouldn’t be shocked at an upset loss to Toledo as the injuries continue to pile up but I would be disappointed. Not fair to judge either team on one game but I don’t think ND is a CFP contender & that’s ok. I do think they can scratch out 10 wins but it’s going to take some backups stepping up, fortification of the OL, improved tackling, steady Jack Coan (can’t afford a ‘come down to earth’ type game today) & so fortuitous breaks.