Week Eight Prediction Poll (Va Tech @ ND)

[gkIrish]

Spread is ND -17.5

Votes are public.

 

[IrishLion]

I think the team responds and covers.

I doubt we see a QB change. ND will be able to run over VT. The DL will give VT's OL problems.

Basically the opposite of getting manhandled by scUM.

VT is actually pretty good this year, like UVA, but I don't think they can match ND athletically, like UVA.

 

[EvilleIrish]

I think the team responds and covers.

I doubt we see a QB change. ND will be able to run over VT. The DL will give VT's OL problems.

Basically the opposite of getting manhandled by scUM.

VT is actually pretty good this year, like UVA, but I don't think they can match ND athletically, like UVA.

I just can't see us covering that big of a spread right now. I was the biggest Book truther there was, but he looks completely shook and broken.

 

[IrishLion]

I just can't see us covering that big of a spread right now. I was the biggest Book truther there was, but he looks completely shook and broken.

I think they can win big without asking Book to do anything more than make some back-should throws to Claypool and scramble on the occasional 3rd-down.

I see it going the way of the UVA game, but better, because VT's new QB is decent, but still not as good as Perkins.

 

[EvilleIrish]

I think they can win big without asking Book to do anything more than make some back-should throws to Claypool and scramble on the occasional 3rd-down.

I see it going the way of the UVA game, but better, because VT's new QB is decent, but still not as good as Perkins.

It really is a classic spot to bet ND. The only thing I worry about is the wind out of the sails of the team since they now know that the playoff is out of the question.

 

[IrishLax]

The downward spiral a la 2014 begins. Or does it?

We'll know by halftime whether the Michigan debacle is the new normal or not. Virginia Tech has a bye and a blueprint on how to expose ND's weaknesses. This is a big game against a decent opponent-but-not-great opponent for the team to show they have some cajones:
-Ian Book needs to actually throw the ball on time to wide open players.
-Linebackers need to actually read plays and fill holes and stick tackles without getting carried for 5 yards after contact.
-DBs need to actually defend a 50/50 ball when given the opportunity.
-DL needs to actually live up to hype and make some impact plays.

I'm not sure all of those will happen, and that's without getting into any of the lesser issues on the team. We're going to learn a LOT about the team culture over the next 5 games.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I'm with A Camp until this coaching staff proves they can right the ship offensively. Doomsday begins Saturday, and I'll be there to witness the second coming of 2014.

VT 10+.

 

[EvilleIrish]

The downward spiral a la 2014 begins. Or does it?

We'll know by halftime whether the Michigan debacle is the new normal or not. Virginia Tech has a bye and a blueprint on how to expose ND's weaknesses. This is a big game against a decent opponent-but-not-great opponent for the team to show they have some cajones:
-Ian Book needs to actually throw the ball on time to wide open players.
-Linebackers need to actually read plays and fill holes and stick tackles without getting carried for 5 yards after contact.
-DBs need to actually defend a 50/50 ball when given the opportunity.
-DL needs to actually live up to hype and make some impact plays.

I'm not sure all of those will happen, and that's without getting into any of the lesser issues on the team. We're going to learn a LOT about the team culture over the next 5 games.

Great point about the DB play. I am shocked at how much Gilman has regressed. Two plays off the top of my head from Saturday night...1. The pass that he got called for PI on should have been the easiest pick of all time with Patterson forcing it into double coverage with him rolling over the top. He made zero play on the ball. 2. He made an absolutely horrible run fit on one of the huge UM runs.

 

[ACamp1900]

I'm with A Camp until this coaching staff proves they can right the ship offensively. Doomsday begins Saturday, and I'll be there to witness the second coming of 2014.

VT 10+.

Yikes... you know it's bad when this shit starts getting posted...

 

[Huntr]

I doubt we see a QB change. ND will be able to run over VT. The DL will give VT's OL problems.

I think these 2 points are correct, but I'm not sure that a good run game will translate into a big win. I voted ND 5-10, but I have no idea if these guys are broken or not.

*Maybe* a double digit win?

 

[Luckylucci]

Great point about the DB play. I am shocked at how much Gilman has regressed. Two plays off the top of my head from Saturday night...1. The pass that he got called for PI on should have been the easiest pick of all time with Patterson forcing it into double coverage with him rolling over the top. He made zero play on the ball. 2. He made an absolutely horrible run fit on one of the huge UM runs.

I know everybody is hot on Book at rightfully so but I'm just as disappointed in Alohi. His game is a complete mess right now. All of the things that got him to the point where he was the highest graded S in the country per PFF, have went completely out the window. Poor tackling, coverage busts, etc. Consider this, for the 13 games he played last year he had 58 solo tackles. Through 7 games this year, he has 18.

 

[Luckylucci]

I voted 5-10. I think they bounce back with a W. In what most consider a rather uninspiring performance, 27-17.

 

[EvilleIrish]

I know everybody is hot on Book at rightfully so but I'm just as disappointed in Alohi. His game is a complete mess right now. All of the things that got him to the point where he was the highest graded S in the country per PFF, have went completely out the window. Poor tackling, coverage busts, etc. Consider this, for the 13 games he played last year he had 58 solo tackles. Through 7 games this year, he has 18.

I don't understand it. He was an absolute game wrecker last year and is now a complete liability.

 

[RDU Irish]

ND by 40, unless there is rain - then we lose by 20.

 

[ACamp1900]

I know everybody is hot on Book at rightfully so but I'm just as disappointed in Alohi. His game is a complete mess right now. All of the things that got him to the point where he was the highest graded S in the country per PFF, have went completely out the window. Poor tackling, coverage busts, etc. Consider this, for the 13 games he played last year he had 58 solo tackles. Through 7 games this year, he has 18.

I wonder what her name is,...

 

[Irish#1]

I voted 5-10. I think they bounce back with a W. In what most consider a rather uninspiring performance, 27-17.

If play is uninspired, we'll lose one or two more this year. If we roll, then we'll finish the season without another loss and still wonder what the heck happened Saturday.

 

[ShawneeIrish]

Notre Dame wins by 14+. Book starts this game and every other game this season. Notre Dame goes on to finish 10-2 or at worst 9-3, with only possible loss being Navy, without having beaten a single good team.

 

[Wingman Ray]

Notre Dame wins by 14+. Book starts this game and every other game this season. Notre Dame goes on to finish 10-2 or at worst 9-3, with only possible loss being Navy, without having beaten a single good team.

My bet is ND drops to Navy and Stanford.

Stanford, as crappy as they are, toss the air raid gameplan for a day, loads up the double tight formation that they were recruited to play and runs ND out of the stadium for 300+.

ND goes on to play Texas and loses 38-14.

ND fans spend the offseason moaning the loss of the star recruits and bitching about BK being replaced knowing Snack Jack wont pull the trigger.

 

[ShawneeIrish]

A loss to this Stanford team would be unforgivable.

 

[NDMontana]

ND down 19-14 with four minutes left. They score a TD, fail the two point conversion attempt and go up 20-19 with 1:15 to go. Va Tech gets a decent kick return, a big QB scramble, one short pass and kicks a 34 yard field as time expires to win 22-20.

 

[T Town Tommy]

This game will be as much of a test for the coaching staff as it will be for the players. How each reacts in the face of adversity will go a long way in knowing if they are truly the coaches for the long haul. ND is more talented at most every position group. There should be no reason the Irish doesn’t get up early, dictate the play on both sides of the ball, and begin the climb back up to the top 10. Squeak by with a dismal performance, repeat the same mistakes, and be content with slightly better than average then I think a legitimate conversation could be had about whether changes need to be made and/or if a BK extension needs to wait a bit longer.

I like ND to bounce back 31-20.

 

[NDOM]

I dont feel that the boys will be up for this game! still very vanilla and Virginia Techs pressure defense gets 3 turnovers.

Virginia Tech 31
Notre Dame 27

 

[BGIF]

I dont feel that the boys will be up for this game! still very vanilla and Virginia Techs pressure defense gets 3 turnovers.

Virginia Tech 31
Notre Dame 27

What pressure defense?

What were you smoking when you wrote that?

Tech is -5 in turnovers. They've lost 8 fumbles to their opponents 2.

That's against Sagarin's 103rd Toughest Schedule. ND's schedule is 21st Toughest.

VT's played 7 games, 2 were FCS foes, Rhode Island and Furman and one should still be a FCS foe, ODU is 7th in ConfUSA. They've allowed 17 pts to RI, Fur, and ODU and had to come from behind against ODU.

Of the 4 teams they've played usually associated with Div 1 ball they gave up 35 pts to BC (L), 35 to MIA (W), 41 to UNC (W), and 45 to the Dookies in a Loss. None of those schools are ranked but they've averaged almost 40 points a game against your "pressure defense".


Connelly ranks ND's SP+ at #25 with the offense 22nd, the D 38th, and ST 19th.

#57 VT's O is 64th, D 65th, ST 73rd.

 

[NDOM]

What pressure defense?

What were you smoking when you wrote that?

Tech is -5 in turnovers. They've lost 8 fumbles to their opponents 2.

That's against Sagarin's 103rd Toughest Schedule. ND's schedule is 21st Toughest.

VT's played 7 games, 2 were FCS foes, Rhode Island and Furman and one should still be a FCS foe, ODU is 7th in ConfUSA. They've allowed 17 pts to RI, Fur, and ODU and had to come from behind against ODU.

Of the 4 teams they've played usually associated with Div 1 ball they gave up 35 pts to BC (L), 35 to MIA (W), 41 to UNC (W), and 45 to the Dookies in a Loss. None of those schools are ranked but they've averaged almost 40 points a game against your "pressure defense".


Connelly ranks ND's SP+ at #25 with the offense 22nd, the D 38th, and ST 19th.

#57 VT's O is 64th, D 65th, ST 73rd.

Ian Book is our quarterback. It could be the worst defense in the country and it wouldn't take much to make the pansy start to scramble. Even I know this and I'm not even a defensive coordinator. lol

 

[ulukinatme]

{Italics}

{/Italics}

 

[Irish#1]

My bet is ND drops to Navy and Stanford.

Stanford, as crappy as they are, toss the air raid gameplan for a day, loads up the double tight formation that they were recruited to play and runs ND out of the stadium for 300+.

ND goes on to play Texas and loses 38-14.

ND fans spend the offseason moaning the loss of the star recruits and bitching about BK being replaced knowing Snack Jack wont pull the trigger.

You and Koon trade text messages all the time?

 

[Wild Bill]

ND 31-17. TJJ has a good day and Book does just enough to keep our baby boy Phil on the bench.

 

[koonja]

Fart noise.

 

[ACamp1900]

Last Saturday fucked us all up...

 

[Wild Bill]

Last Saturday fucked us all up...

Yeah, it was last Saturday that fucked us up. We were all totally normal before kickoff.