Week Seven Prediction Poll (ND @ scUM)

[RDU Irish]

Wind and rain are not my friend in attending ND games - will be closer than it should but no hurricane to bail out the skunkbears

 

[IrishLax]

Given the forecast, I'll be surprised if ND scores 14 points. I think this might be a 13-10 type of game, which direction I'm not sure.

 

[AllTimeIrish]

My opinion is that there are some out here that are downplaying the Michigan WR's. They are a much, much better position group than either Ga or Va. Whether Patterson can get the ball to them consistently is a whole other story. But make no mistake, they are better than the Irish secondary who will be covering them. Let's hope the front seven get home enough to disrupt Patterson.

If Crawford and Vaughn play, I don't think Michigan has any advantage. Our safeties are excellent and deep, and our best corners, when healthy, are overall very capable.

Pride gets a lot of crap for getting perfect balls thrown against him, but he is not bad at all. He is a pretty good cover guy that just doesn't get picks.

Crawford is a big play guy. Vaughn is actually a pretty good cover corner that gets beat every once in a while, but that is fine for a third CB. He has size and speed to play with Michigan's WRs. It is the depth that is a much bigger issue for the Irish at CB.

 

[AllTimeIrish]

Given the forecast, I'll be surprised if ND scores 14 points. I think this might be a 13-10 type of game, which direction I'm not sure.

This plays into ND's favor because they don't have a great big play passing game. They run the ball well and have a good intermediate passing game with some play breaking capability. Keeping the score down helps ND against Michigan's receivers.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

I've gone back and forth on this all week. I think we win by double digits. We are giving Harboner and Gattis way too much credit for one half of football. I don't think Michigan will be able to sustain drives. They might hit on a couple big plays but it won't be enough. I think ND, on the other hand, can sustain drives IF Book can find the open guys. Now that we have our full complement of offensive weapons we should be able to put pressure on even a good defensive group like Michigan. Kmet is going to be important. Book's legs will be important. Blocking on WR screens is going to be important. And it would be nice if we could actually execute a decent RB screen or two to take advantage of an aggressive defense.

 

[Irish#1]

I've gone back and forth on this all week. I think we win by double digits. We are giving Harboner and Gattis way too much credit for one half of football. I don't think Michigan will be able to sustain drives. They might hit on a couple big plays but it won't be enough. I think ND, on the other hand, can sustain drives IF Book can find the open guys. Now that we have our full complement of offensive weapons we should be able to put pressure on even a good defensive group like Michigan. Kmet is going to be important. Book's legs will be important. Blocking on WR screens is going to be important. And it would be nice if we could actually execute a decent RB screen or two to take advantage of an aggressive defense.

Irish ran 4 or 5 screens against them last year.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

ND can run the ball on scUM, their linebackers, particularly McGrone and Hudson, while athletic and superior pass rushers, are undersized and aren't particularly great at taking on blocks in the run game.

Also, scUM has fumbled a whopping 17 times this season, which ranks near the bottom of the nation. On the flip side, ND is in the top 10 with 9 fumbles forced. That being said I hope the boys wrap up and tackle with solid fundamentals and let the rain and scUM's shotty ball protection take care of itself.

I think it will be very similar to MSU/scUM in 2017 at the Big House. I don't think scUM can get out of their own way offensively and ND will play the field position battle on the way to catching a couple of breaks for a low scoring W.

Make no bones about it, we are the better coached team and more fundamentally sound. That will be crucial in a game played in conditions we expect to see tomorrow.

 

[ACamp1900]

Also, scUM has fumbled a whopping 17 times this season, which ranks near the bottom of the nation.

I've been sayin, Sheamus McFumbleson... the rain may be a huge blessing.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Irish ran 4 or 5 screens against them last year.

Lets do it again! Screen game has been poor. I think with Jafar back we should see it a bit more tomorrow.

 

[NDMontana]

I fear that Book’s limitations cost the Irish the game in a difficult environment against an angry team that thinks it can still have a good season by beating ND and (pipe dream) OSU.

UM 23-ND 20 with ND scoring a TD in the waning moments followed by a completely botched attempt at an onside. The final score will make it look closer than it was. ND struggles to amass 230 yards of offense while UM marches up and down the field but stalls in the red zone, ultimately being held to three field goals and two touchdowns but amassing over 450 yards of offense. A game that will feel closer to 42-13 but end up looking respectable at a superficial level.

And as I am often wrong, let us hope I am again.

 

[dudexcore]

Fuck it. Michigan can suck a fat one. 69-0 Irish.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Lax was right.