Week Five Prediction Poll (Stanford @ ND)

[OhioIrish31]

Any key recruits going to visit for this game?

 

[Luckylucci]

31-27 ND. Go Irish!

 

[Luckylucci]

Stanford is certainly good enough to come into ND and win handily. Their team this year is arguably better than their team last year, and ND is a lot worse on offense... or are they!?! I think that’s the wildcard, whether this Book offense is the real deal. I think ND’s defense is good enough that with ACC refs they’ll keep Stanford’s points down... without I think Stanford will move the ball with their holding + OPI offense.

Eventually though, enough is enough and it’s time to nut up. I think that time is this weekend and ND gets the job done one way or another. Just make some goddamn plays. ND 28 Trees 24.

Extremely interested to see how they treat this. To me, it’s as egregious as the holding calls against ND, recently. If they let Arcega Whiteside get away with his push off, pulldowns, and two hand box outs, it’ll be a long night. If they don’t, I think Stanford will have troubles scoring points.

 

[tko]

It's just hard for me to see us disrupting the timing of the Stanford passing game. I imagine we'll contain Love, but Costello to Smith and then Whiteside et al too much, especially considering we'll be called for PI probably 7+ times. Maybe we get a miracle play or two, however, Stanford is the luckiest team on the planet and I fear the smug look by Shaw could become a wry smile by the end of the game. I have a sick feeling in my stomach on this one, sorry.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I would be so, so happy if we 2017 USC'd them. I would love to see the smug look on Shaw's face wiped away to the verge of tears.

Costello will get really familiar with the taste of the turf in Notre Dame Stadium, IMO.

 

[arrowryan]

If I had form an opinion on Arcega-Whiteside just by reading this board, I would've thought he'd be averaging 10 grabs a game and a lock to be a top 10 pick. He has 8 catches combined against the teams that were worth a shit and all of his catches are basically deep shots. Want to prevent that from happening? Then get QB pressure early and often. We're making this guy seem like a 6'6" monster but in reality, our corners go against guys bigger than him everyday in practice.

 

[BabyIrish]

Stanford by 4-8. They will get lucky and beat us on some bullshit play. I won't be calling an ND win against Stanford until I see it first with my own two eyes.

This is where I'm at. We've only beat Stanford twice in the BK era including losing our last 3 against them.

 

[Luckylucci]

It's just hard for me to see us disrupting the timing of the Stanford passing game. I imagine we'll contain Love, but Costello to Smith and then Whiteside et al too much, especially considering we'll be called for PI probably 7+ times. Maybe we get a miracle play or two, however, Stanford is the luckiest team on the planet and I fear the smug look by Shaw could become a wry smile by the end of the game. I have a sick feeling in my stomach on this one, sorry.

There isn't a lot of timing to their passing game.

 

[Luckylucci]

If I had form an opinion on Arcega-Whiteside just by reading this board, I would've thought he'd be averaging 10 grabs a game and a lock to be a top 10 pick. He has 8 catches combined against the teams that were worth a shit and all of his catches are basically deep shots. Want to prevent that from happening? Then get QB pressure early and often. We're making this guy seem like a 6'6" monster but in reality, our corners go against guys bigger than him everyday in practice.

I think this is a drastic overreaction. He'll be this seasons most productive WR on the field Saturday. So, certainly something to take note of, would be incredibly silly not to. And aside from that, I think what most are concerned about is not the talent but the tactics with how he's used. It's virtually impossible to stop if the refs allow it to happen.

 

[T Town Tommy]

The Irish will be higher than KJ Costello after this one.

Irish 31
Trees 27

 

[SonofOahu]

I always go with my heart on this, informed very little by reason. Smart money says take Stanford and the points, but I'm going with BK somehow pulling this game out of his ass, letting us all believe in this season before it comes crashing down in the next month

I like where your head's at!

 

[Bluto]

Here’s something to consider. Three teams that Stanford has played that run an offense similar to the one ND has with Book at QB are Washington, Washington State and Oregon. Stanford has had their problems with all three to varying degrees over the past three seasons.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Here’s something to consider. Three teams that Stanford has played that run an offense similar to the one ND has with Book at QB are Washington, Washington State and Oregon.They’ve had their problems with all three to varying degrees over the past three seasons.

So you're implying that Stanford has an issue with Caucasian quarterbacks?

 

[Bluto]

So you're implying that Stanford has an issue with Caucasian quarterbacks?

Only ones that run a spread offense with a good passing game and are quick but not necessarily fast. They kicked poor JT Daniels’ ass. Guess he just wasn’t quick enough.

 

[notredomer23]

Feeling a Julian Love pick 6 to seal the game late.

 

[Irishize]

You know this is hot take when I have to agree with Koon. Not sure how you can justify this. If you said, "as important", sure, I can entertain that. But, "much more important". Don't see that.

To be fair, before the season started this was the debate in BGI as Somogyi went w/ Stanford as the ‘must win’ & Driskell went w/ scUM as the ‘must win’. Considering scUM was the opener, it was a tough call so I could see the merits from both sides. 2-6 vs Stanford though sticks out like a sore thumb. Drue Tranquill is the only player on the current roster who experienced a win over Stanford.

Even if Love breaks one...as he’s definitely due, the TEs/Arcega-Whiteside worry me more than him. ND has been stout in the RZ but I don’t think they have an answer for jump balls to the TEs/Arcega-whiteside UNLESS the blitz can get home before or as Costello is releasing the ball.

 

[ACamp1900]

Only ones that run a spread offense with a good passing game and are quick but not necessarily fast. They kicked poor JT Daniels’ ass. Guess he just wasn’t quick enough.

quicker than fast??

 

[calvegas04]

Love hasn't been all the impressive this season, sure what will change saturday tho :/

 

[greyhammer90]

My mind tells me ND by 10. My gut says Stanford by 4.

 

[GowerND11]

Love hasn't been all the impressive this season, sure what will change saturday tho :/

He's tied for 5th in passes defended this year. I wish I could find a stat about how many times WRs have been targeted with him covering, but just based on memory, he certainly is playing great. Allowing some underneath stuff, but he's reading routes well.

 

[zelezo vlk]

He's tied for 5th in passes defended this year. I wish I could find a stat about how many times WRs have been targeted with him covering, but just based on memory, he certainly is playing great. Allowing some underneath stuff, but he's reading routes well.

I think he meant Bryce

 

[calvegas04]

My mind tells me ND by 10. My gut says Stanford by 4.

What has a better record your Gut or Mind?

 

[GowerND11]

I think he meant Bryce

Stupid 4 letter name...

 

[OhioIrish31]

I was at the scUM game...if the stadium rocks like it did that night and we fluster Costello early...ND by 11. Something like 28-17.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I think he meant Bryce

I was gonna say...I was ready to jump down his throat with GowerND11 lol. But yeah,
now that we're all on the same page, he's kind of right. Check this comparison out:

Tony Jones Jr.: 46 for 263 (5.72 YPC), 3 TD
Bryce (The other) Love: 59 for 254 (4.30 YPC), 2 TD

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Also worth mentioning: I looked this morning and the spread was bumped to -4.5 in favor of ND. Just looked again.....it's -5.5. Vegas bets are bullish on the Irish.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Bryce Love is still the issue this game. Hitting him hard and introducing him to the sidelines bench for repairs is our winning secret. Our underrated (and terrific) pass rushing DEs (Okwara and KK) will (with help from Gilman) take care of the rest.

 

[Bluto]

quicker than fast??

Correct. It all comes down to the jimmies and joes who are quicker than fast, not the X’s and O’s.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Gilman (and Elliott) are easily the biggest differences in this game compared to last season's matchup.

Mere words cannot describe how much better our safeties are and how much of a difference it makes when going up against the type of passing offense they'll be playing in this game, and against a RB like Love, who has the potential to go off at any time.

 

[irishtrooper]

If the front 7 (reasonably) contain Love, which I think they will.... and they get pressure, which I think they will- it will be a good night. I think Costello makes some plays, Love breaks one big one and a few other smaller gashers, we get hosed on at least 2 PI calls- but that’s all. They’ll score a bit with that stuff, but not enough. As long as Book spreads it around and we don’t turn it over 2 or more times, I believe ND wins by more than a TD (much like Michigan, final score not indicative of the game flow). ND just has better talent and if not for the horseshoe up their butt, Stanford would already have a loss. Lucky for ND, they don’t. This will be the 2nd premier win to help the case for a playoff birth.