Notre Dame at Michigan

[Aikman_TheGreat]

What is everyone's thoughts on this game?

I gotta say I'm very surprised at the way Michigan as started the year. Coming into the season i thought they were a near lock at a BCS bowl. And a great chance at a NC.

I wasn't too sure about Notre Dame though. Of course all the hype on Clausen had me thinking they may be pretty good. But then again, ESPN is the king of hype.


What is really weird is, one of these two teams is gonna start out the season at 0-3.


I'm taking michigan. I'd love to see Ryan Mallett from Texarkana, Texas lead Michigan to what Chad Henne couldnt.

[theproudestmonkey]

i dont even wanna pick the game, lol. both look horrible!! both teams have been DOMINATED by average competition (PSU has a nice squad), both have really bad defenses, and both look extremely undisciplined. ill take the maize and blue, just cause i think their offense is better than the domers

28 - 17

[flea]

Go Irish

Michigan's Season Has To Be The Most Dissapointing. Even The Most Die Hard Nd Fan Knew We'd Struggle This Year

Michigan Were Ranked #5

[jdio13]

Don't get me wrong, I am a die-hard ND fan. Always have been, always will be but I am gonna have to say Michigan will win this game. My reasons are this:

1. ND's offense has not scored a single point this season. We just dont have the WR threats this year like we had last year (Jeff Samardzija and Rhema McKnight) and it seems like ND just doesn't want to throw to their 5th year senior TE (John Carlson..very good TE)

2. ND is too inexperienced. They have 1 freshman RB (Armando Allen), 1 Sophomore RB (James Aldridge), and 1 RB who played defense all of last year (Travis Thomas). On top of that ND has a true freshman QB starting. ND also only has 2 returning starters from the OL.

3. The game is at Michigan. I know Michigan lost in the Big House to Appalacian St. and Oregon but I am pretty sure the Michigan faithful are sick of losing there. I think Michigan will come out fired up and I think that they have the mindset that "if we are going to get our first win at home, why not do it against a rival team."

Those are just my thoughts. I would really like to see ND pull one out but it is going to be very tough. I think that in a few years ND will be very good but this year is going to be a long one for us ND fans haha.

Sorry about the long post

Jason

[theproudestmonkey]

-8 yards net rushing thru 2 games for the irish....how does that happen?? after the way they treated willingham, how does charlie still have a job?? these are his recruits, right??

[jdio13]

I know, their rushing game is horrible. Like I said above ^^, ND only has 2 returning starters on the O Line. Also their main back is the true freshman (Armando Allen) so that probably has something to do with it. And the thing about the Willingham stuff..I think it is one major difference, and that being that Charlie has taken ND to 2 BCS bowls in his first two years.

[theproudestmonkey]

yeah, thats flawed though man!! if they were in a conference, would they have had two BCS appearances? pretty sure that is a big NO :)

as far as them being young, thats my point!! every team is young at some point, especially these days with guys leaving early. lots of freshman have had HUGE years. adrian peterson was a true freshman, right? colt mccoy was a true freshman i believe?? if you are good enough to be the starting RB at ND as freshman, then ya gotta produce (that goes for the line too). was he a top recruit? if not, why didn't they get a top recruit? i just think youth is a poor excuse in college football when talking about schools with the stature of ND and Michigan.

[jdio13]

They don't need to be in a confrence, look at their schedual the past 2 years and the teams they have played and they still make it to the BCS bowl games. As for all of the true freshman I agree with you, they definately should be producing much better but the thing is with ND, they don't have the reciever threats to open up their running game. And Armando Allen was a top recruit last year and I believe he committed in his junior year but he did not play his senior year in high school due to an ACL tear (which also could be part of the reason why he isnt producing..tought injury to come back from). I know it sounds like I am making all these excuses for ND but I am just pointing out a few keys that might have something to do with them not winning.

[Aikman_TheGreat]

I dont think there is any excuse for any team to have -8 rushing yards in two games. Especially Notre Dame. They get top recruits each year. So even if they are freshman, they should at least be able to produce positive yards. Winning may take time, but i dont think a little production is too much to ask for.

[jdio13]

Yes, but it is also that sacks count as negative rushing yards in NCAA. And look at the defenses ND has played so far. Georgia Tech has a great defense and so does Penn State. Like I said, I am not making excuses for them but ND has played two very tough defenses and those defenses can cause alot of damage against an inexperienced OL.