Dec 20 | Indiana

[Giddyup]

Have to. It's a playoff rule.

Really it’s the only humanitarian thing to do in 10degree weather

 

[BilboBaggins]

Okay, but they've played two teams with winning records. (We've played seven.) We probably have the best O line they've played.

And ND has also lost to a MAC team.

My only point is to push back on some of the overconfidence here. Indiana is a good team. I just don't get the confidence that ND is going to run them out of the stadium, because ND has also benefitted from a weak schedule that has honestly masked how pedestrian the OL, DL, WR and QB are.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Am I crazy or does Indiana have the #1 rushing defense in the country at just 70 yards per game?

Again, take ND and the over. Indiana has not seen a rushing attack like ND. Adjusted defensive and offensive efficiencies are better metrics, and they favor ND by double digits.

 

[Hautian Domer]

This is going to be a tough game. Indiana is pretty freaking good against the run, and they have guys on the DL that grade high each week on PFF.

We have to get to Rourke or he might be able to sit back and pick his shots.
He does seem to have slowed down once he came back from injury, so that might be a thing.

If we can’t beat this team somewhat comfortably then we have a whole lot of other problems

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

He's being a bit of a dick there, but there is a real takeaway from that video: for Indiana, this game is the fucking Superbowl. They will bring their A game. ND will have to match the intensity.

I think you may be a closet IU fan. That's fine, we may have to agree to disagree. But I'm confident ND can beat anybody in this playoff, and IU is one of the weaker teams. So yeah, I like the matchup.

 

[Ndaccountant]

He's being a bit of a dick there, but there is a real takeaway from that video: for Indiana, this game is the fucking Superbowl. They will bring their A game. ND will have to match the intensity.

Yea, but is that different than SMU? Tennessee? All teams playing in the first year of the playoffs round 1 will be a super bowl. IU isn't unique in that regard.

 

[zelezo vlk]

And ND has also lost to a MAC team.

My only point is to push back on some of the overconfidence here. Indiana is a good team. I just don't get the confidence that ND is going to run them out of the stadium, because ND has also benefitted from a weak schedule that has honestly masked how pedestrian the OL, DL, WR and QB are.

Maybe because the only good team IU played absolutely dog walked them and their HC is now talking shit?

 

[Hautian Domer]

I think you may be a closet IU fan. That's fine, we may have to agree to disagree. But I'm confident ND can beat anybody in this playoff, and IU is one of the weaker teams. So yeah, I like the matchup.

I was with you, but the USC game did kinda shake my confidence. They made Golden’s defense look foolish.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

He's being a bit of a dick there, but there is a real takeaway from that video: for Indiana, this game is the fucking Superbowl. They will bring their A game. ND will have to match the intensity.

I mean
Ohio State was their Superbowl game too and look what they brought lol

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

Wait, Indiana has the best rush defense in the country? Bedwetting will start early in my household.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

I was with you, but the USC game did kinda shake my confidence. They made Golden’s defense look foolish.

On the road in a rivalry against a team with fast, athletic receivers and what appears to be a future Heisman candidate at QB. And we won by 21 (I don't count the garbage td with 10 seconds left).

 

[greyhammer90]

I'm with Buster here. We've been no shows in post season play way too much for me to be talking shit. I do like all the confidence from IU guys.

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

I'm with Buster here. We've been no shows in post season play way too much for me to be talking shit. I do like all the confidence from IU guys.

For real, I am gonna be silent.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

I'm with Buster here. We've been no shows in post season play way too much for me to be talking shit. I do like all the confidence from IU guys.

This is a different ND team. This is not Kelly's soft ass, business meeting Irish teams. This is a line em up and punch them in the mouth ND team.

And every advanced metric shows this team is for real.

 

[IrishTusker]

And ND has also lost to a MAC team.

My only point is to push back on some of the overconfidence here. Indiana is a good team. I just don't get the confidence that ND is going to run them out of the stadium, because ND has also benefitted from a weak schedule that has honestly masked how pedestrian the OL, DL, WR and QB are.

ND's schedule is what it is. It would be the same if we had lost to A&M instead of NIU.

As for IU's rush defense, look at the rush YPG stats for the teams they've played. OSU is at ~160, and most of the rest are in the 80-120 range. ND is at ~220.

I wouldn't say ND is going to run them out of the stadium but ND should win, such that a loss is an indictment of the coaches/team.

 

[greyhammer90]

This is a different ND team. This is not Kelly's soft ass, business meeting Irish teams. This is a line em up and punch them in the mouth ND team.

Ok then they'll show me

 

[DCK_1981]

Am I crazy or does Indiana have the #1 rushing defense in the country at just 70 yards per game?

Well they do but the offensive rankings of the teams IU has played are: 101,117,108, 67, 130, 94, 68, 110, 128,127. Ohio State was in the 30s so yes they ranked 1st but they played bad offenses and got ahead so teams were having to throw

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Honestly, would you be more confident playing SMU or Clemson? I don't think I would.

 

[Ndaccountant]

I'm with Buster here. We've been no shows in post season play way too much for me to be talking shit. I do like all the confidence from IU guys.

I get it. You don't get to this point by being a weak team. At large versus at large is as real as it gets. But if you look at the 4 away teams in round 1, is there a better match up for ND?

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

I get it. You don't get to this point by being a weak team. At large versus at large is as real as it gets. But if you look at the 4 away teams in round 1, is there a better match up for ND?

No

 

[IrishLax]

Wait, Indiana has the best rush defense in the country? Bedwetting will start early in my household.

I saw this too and I just flat out didn't believe it. I looked it up and they only gave up 115 to Ohio State and 69 to Michigan. Are they actually good?

 

[greyhammer90]

I get it. You don't get to this point by being a weak team. At large versus at large is as real as it gets. But if you look at the 4 away teams in round 1, is there a better match up for ND?

Nope. I think we should win. Just not gonna act like we're gonna run them out of the stadium when they've shown that they can murder bad B1G teams just as well as we can.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Nope. I think we should win. Just not gonna act like we're gonna run them out of the stadium when they've shown that they can murder bad B1G teams just as well as we can.

They had deer in the headlights look against Ohio St and got run off the field. The speed and athleticism of ND will be a problem for them.

 

[IrishLax]

Honestly, would you be more confident playing SMU or Clemson? I don't think I would.

I would for sure. We would beat Clemson by 3 TDs.

 

[BilboBaggins]

I think you may be a closet IU fan.

*eyeroll*

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

I would for sure. We would beat Clemson by 3 TDs.

Their starting QB playing much better as the season progressed. It wasn't the same team that got blown out by Georgia. Clemson and IU on a neutral field would probably be a pick em. And Dabo and Clemson have a track record of showing up in big games.

 

[FOTY977]

I’m expecting a Louisville-like performance. Game never really felt in doubt, but it was obvious the opposition brought talent and some swagger that kept them dangerous the entire outing.

 

[Giddyup]

Basically OSU’s rb’s avg 4.8 ypc against Indiana. I think they’ll game plan against our rush so Leonard will have to be on.

The encouraging thing for us is that Riley has improved his reads and throwing as the season has progressed

 

[MPClinton22]

I would for sure. We would beat Clemson by 3 TDs.

I really don’t think Clemson is all that different from Indiana. Give Indiana Clemson’s schedule and I think theres a decent chance they lose exactly the same games, in a similar manner.

 

[BilboBaggins]

I saw this too and I just flat out didn't believe it. I looked it up and they only gave up 115 to Ohio State and 69 to Michigan. Are they actually good?

It's tough to know for sure because the Big Ten offense are usually pretty weak so it benefits all of the defensive numbers.

But they're good enough to worry me. It's not like they're the 80th ranked rushing defense and ND is going to feast.

I personally think ND's rushing game looks better on paper because of the homeruns Love hits. Which is definitely part of the game, but I question how "sustainable" that is against better rush defenses. It's not like ND's OL has a bunch of maulers who have run right at everyone.