Week Four Prediction Poll (ND @ Wake Forest)

[Crazy Balki]

It scares me that Wake's offense is better than Vandy because Vandy was moving the ball really well in the second half and probably should have scored another 14 points in the game if not for a goal line turnover and a dropped ball.

The issue with our offense is not really how talented we are compared to the opponent. Our issues stem from bad playcalling, bad personnel decisions, and bad decision making by the QB. And just bad red zone play in general.

That's why a game like this scares me because we are probably going to give up 24+ points. The question is whether or not we finish drives, avoid drops, and play smart. I could see a 31-27 loss. But I could also see a 42-21 win.

I disagree. I think Vandy's offense is better equipped to play ND, because they had Shurmur. He's the best QB we've faced so far and Wake's QB isn't anywhere near him in terms of command of the offense.

Wake is all about attacking on the ground and using Dorsch on the perimeter. You stop that, Wake can't do anything, and of course, their defense can't stop a nosebleed.

If ND struggles again to put up points, I'm beginning to panic. They really should have no trouble scoring on an abysmal Wake defense.

 

[calvegas04]

reading the WF board and they like their chances against Wimbush

 

[gkIrish]

I disagree. I think Vandy's offense is better equipped to play ND, because they had Shurmur. He's the best QB we've faced so far and Wake's QB isn't anywhere near him in terms of command of the offense.

Wake is all about attacking on the ground and using Dorsch on the perimeter. You stop that, Wake can't do anything, and of course, their defense can't stop a nosebleed.

If ND struggles again to put up points, I'm beginning to panic. They really should have no trouble scoring on an abysmal Wake defense.

How would you know that considering their QB is coming off a suspension this week?

 

[arrowryan]

How would you know that considering their QB is coming off a suspension this week?

I saw on social media that Wake will be staying with the freshman QB as the starter.

 

[GowerND11]

Put this in the game thread, but will drop it here too


Wake Stats (ND in par)

Total Offense - 16th (85)
Passing - 33rd (80)
Rushing - 13th (74)

Total Defense - 107 (68)
Passing - 119 (96)
Rushing - 70 (35)

Too bad advanced stats aren't computed yet. Would love to see those.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

reading the WF board and they like their chances against Wimbush

This isn't exactly a hot take; If I saw a QB with 55% completion percentage and 122 yards passing with 0 TD I'd be drooling too...unless you follow the team and see that he is a HUGE threat with his legs, which typically helps open up lanes for our RBs when he makes the right read.

I corrected my post earlier, I accidentally said ND loses by 4ish, but I meant to say win. Don't want anyone to jump on me for flip flopping lol

 

[ThePiombino]

Crud, I picked the wrong one. Meant to pick ND by 8-13

 

[GowerND11]

I know I’m most of y’alls hero but you don’t have to pretend to be scared of Wake to kick it...... we got this one.

 

[BobbyMac]

The first game that doesn't have the IE weaksticks acting like NDNation-nancies.

Going on the road gets ND to focus, What ND does well, Wake can't handle.

34-14 Irish and I wanted to go into the 21+ category.

This is a game to get rich on. Take if from Jimmy the (I was married to a) Greek.

 

[gkIrish]

I saw on social media that Wake will be staying with the freshman QB as the starter.

Oh I just read otherwise but maybe it just said "returning from suspension" and not starting. We'll see.

 

[matman4593]

Going on the road gets ND to focus

A road game could definitely prove to be the kick in the a** this team desparately needs. And more importantly, the kick in the a** this coaching staff needs.

 

[snoopdog]

Yoon steps up with a late fg

ND 27
WF 20

 

[Blaise]

If not Stanford, then Virginia Tech. It's just a matter of time. I haven't seen anything from this team that tells me they can go into Blacksburg and win.

Is this the prediction for Wake Forest thread or V Tech thread?

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

If not Stanford, then Virginia Tech. It's just a matter of time. I haven't seen anything from this team that tells me they can go into Blacksburg and win.

Hmm.. I suppose you said/thought this after they beat scUM 24-17 as well? You didn't see anything on the evening of September 1st that made you think they had a shot against VT?

After you've seen the FSU fallout, what makes you think VT is so daunting? If the 2012 Irish can go to Norman and pull out a victory, what makes is so impossible for the 2018 Irish to do it at Lane Stadium?

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

My guess is our offense never lets up off the gas pedal and we win 38-17. We need to not have mental mistakes and to get our offense rolling.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

My guess is our offense never lets up off the gas pedal and we win 38-17. We need to not have mental mistakes and to get our offense rolling.

How the heck did you come up with that number? Pulling at random from a hat?

 

[OhioIrish31]

Hmm.. I suppose you said/thought this after they beat scUM 24-17 as well? You didn't see anything on the evening of September 1st that made you think they had a shot against VT?

After you've seen the FSU fallout, what makes you think VT is so daunting? If the 2012 Irish can go to Norman and pull out a victory, what makes is so impossible for the 2018 Irish to do it at Lane Stadium?

Why so many questions?

 

[Irish YJ]

I think the rankings don't tell the whole story.

WF's ranking is bolstered by playing 3 teams with mediocre to terrible defenses. Tulane surrendered more points to a really REALLY bad UAB team than they did Wake Forest. Towson is an FCS team, so that's pretty much a throwaway game stat-wise. BC's defense just doesn't look good at all so far this year, either.

I think Hartman has been pretty mediocre so far, and ND's defense should feast. This is easily the worst defense they've played so far, and the offense has no excuse to not kick it into high gear. This game shouldn't be close. It better not be close.

I think you're being far to generous to Ball St and Vandy. Ball St was 0-8 in conf play last year, and Vandy was 1-7. Yes we played Michigan, but all of CFB now think their pre-season rating was over rated..

Keep in mind we played Wake last year at home, with a better OL, better RB cast, etc.. We won by 11 at home. We also relied on a big 2Q (TDs set up by big INT, and some other huge/long runs). Huge game by Deon. Bigger game by Claypool (180yrds). We were outplayed the second half however. After their first 2 drives (punt and missed FG) of the 2nd H, they scored TDs on every drive.

I'm not trying to say WF is big time, at all..... But they are as big, or bigger than BS and Vandy. BS recruiting really isn't on the map. Vandy and WF are pretty equal recruiting year in and out...

BW had 280 passing yards against them last year, and just about everyone had huge runs (even Book had a 43yd run). Doubt we can do that again. We should beat them by 20+ points, but doubt we will. They, just like everyone else, now knows how to game plan on D against us. Personally I think it's another ugly game with the Irish winning by a few 3-7 pts.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Why so many questions?

post of the year, thank you for your contribution to the conversation. Regular Kirk Herbstreit over here

 

[GowerND11]

I think you're being far to generous to Ball St and Vandy. Ball St was 0-8 in conf play last year, and Vandy was 1-7. Yes we played Michigan, but all of CFB now think their pre-season rating was over rated..

Keep in mind we played Wake last year at home, with a better OL, better RB cast, etc.. We won by 11 at home. We also relied on a big 2Q (TDs set up by big INT, and some other huge/long runs). Huge game by Deon. Bigger game by Claypool (180yrds). We were outplayed the second half however. After their first 2 drives (punt and missed FG) of the 2nd H, they scored TDs on every drive.

I'm not trying to say WF is big time, at all..... But they are as big, or bigger than BS and Vandy. BS recruiting really isn't on the map. Vandy and WF are pretty equal recruiting year in and out...

BW had 280 passing yards against them last year, and just about everyone had huge runs (even Book had a 43yd run). Doubt we can do that again. We should beat them by 20+ points, but doubt we will. They, just like everyone else, now knows how to game plan on D against us. Personally I think it's another ugly game with the Irish winning by a few 3-7 pts.

Didn't we also take the foot off the gas last year in the 2nd half and had backups in most of it?

 

[Irish#1]

Why can't we win every game 56-0?

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Why can't we win every game 56-0?

Because that would be sooooo boring. Just as an Alabama fan.

Perfect example: T Town is so bored with his football team that he posts on other teams' forums for entertainment.

 

[gkIrish]

Hmm.. I suppose you said/thought this after they beat scUM 24-17 as well? You didn't see anything on the evening of September 1st that made you think they had a shot against VT?

After you've seen the FSU fallout, what makes you think VT is so daunting? If the 2012 Irish can go to Norman and pull out a victory, what makes is so impossible for the 2018 Irish to do it at Lane Stadium?

No one said anything is "impossible."

Do realize that outside of 2012 we have never beat a top 20 team on the road in the BK era and have only 1 win against a top 25 team (Temple)?

 

[Rack Em]

No one said anything is "impossible."

Do realize that outside of 2012 we have never beat a top 20 team on the road in the BK era and have only 1 win against a top 25 team (Temple)?

And @ Temple is not the same as @ Blacksburg.

 

[zelezo vlk]

No one said anything is "impossible."

Do realize that outside of 2012 we have never beat a top 20 team on the road in the BK era and have only 1 win against a top 25 team (Temple)?

Well this can't be right because they beat MSU last year on the road. Outside of that though, it's slim pickens.

I think the problem is everybody's tune changed from "@VaTech will be very hard" to "The Hokies lost a ton of talent and weren't exactly good to begin with" and is now back to "Enter Sandman is making me poop on my morning commute". Are we sure this Va Tech team is good? I'm not saying ND is a true top 10 team at all, but we at least are seeing a very good defense, that I'm not sure will shit the bed on the road. The O line needs to build off the Vandy performance and hopefully that stabilizes the running game enough to field an efficient, if not explosive, offense. If that happens, which is well within the realm of possibility, then going into Blacksburg isn't a doomsday scenario.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Well this can't be right because they beat MSU last year on the road. Outside of that though, it's slim pickens.

I think the problem is everybody's tune changed from "@VaTech will be very hard" to "The Hokies lost a ton of talent and weren't exactly good to begin with" and is now back to "Enter Sandman is making me poop on my morning commute". Are we sure this Va Tech team is good? I'm not saying ND is a true top 10 team at all, but we at least are seeing a very good defense, that I'm not sure will shit the bed on the road. The O line needs to build off the Vandy performance and hopefully that stabilizes the running game enough to field an efficient, if not explosive, offense. If that happens, which is well within the realm of possibility, then going into Blacksburg isn't a doomsday scenario.

1st bold- Correct, it was 11. ND @ 15. MSU.

2nd bold- This; defense tends to travel. Offense, depending on the system, can have a harder time with the road game due to crowd noise and other factors.

I don't think we will see a repeat of the Miami fiasco we all witnessed last year.

That being said, I'm not downplaying how tough of an environment they will be playing in, but I don't think VT is a world beater and it's winnable.

But first, Beat Demon Deacons.

 

[condoms SUCk]

This is a toss up game, i don't know what ND team will show up. I picked ND by 3.
I'm a show me mentality with the offense, they haven't scored over 24 pts, until they do I don't believe they will.
The Defense looks good, but have played wayyyy too many snaps. The defense will break by mid Oct if the offense can't turn things around and play some solid time possession ball.

 

[ACamp1900]

This is a toss up game,...

 

[Irish Insanity]

With BW as QB every game is a TOSS UP game

 

[Ndaccountant]

ND finally scores more than 24....ends up 27-17 game after ND scores late.