College Football 2007

Casey Fisher · Post by **Casey Fisher** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:27 am

I know we are a month and a half away, but I simply cannot wait for college football to start. Here is the Notre Dame Fighting Irish schedule for this year. I would like to see everyone’s predictions for each game and/or analysis. Overall, they have a difficult schedule, especially early in the season. Could be rough if they have their prize "Golden Boy," Jimmy Clausen starting at QB as a true Freshman. Even if Demetrius Jones starts, he has yet to take a snap in college football… If they can hang tough in the first 8 weeks, I think the last four games should definitely be wins, unless ND doesn’t play up to their capabilities.

Week 1 – vs. Georgia Tech
Week 2 – at Penn State
Week 3 – at Michigan
Week 4 – vs. Michigan State
Week 5 – at Purdue
Week 6 – at UCLA
Week 7 – vs. Boston College
Week 8 – vs. USC
Week 9 – vs. Navy
Week 10 – vs. Air Force
Week 11 – vs. Duke
Week 12 – at Stanford

Feel free to talk about any team in college football from USC to Carroll College on this thread. I just figured I would start out with Notre Dame in honor of this site's leading man, Golf Coach...

Matt Morgan · Post by **Matt Morgan** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 7:32 pm

Give Notre Dame two more years, they'll be in the running(if they stay healthy and their coach doesn't die of a heart attack. That guy is crazy).

Just my opinion.

Casey Fisher · Post by **Casey Fisher** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 7:51 pm

The real Weis does need to drop a few lbs.

Post by **Simon Miller** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:02 am

Wow FisherRock, I am honored that your first thread about college football is focused on the Irish. The schedule, once again is pretty much front loaded, with the softer part towards the end. This could be difficult with such a young squad, but I think the Defense will be what to watch for. If you watched the Patriots during their Superbowl runs, you will notice that Weis was best at keeping the ball out of the opposing teams hands, and taking what the opposing defense gave him. Look for more of that this season, especially early. With a lot of question marks on offense, (experience) Weis will need to play keep away and give Corwin Brown and the new D a chance.

Don't be surprised if you see Evan Sharpley as the starter for the first few games, but Demetrius Jones could get in regularly as he is more of a dual threat QB. Jimmy Clausen is still a question mark as the details of his throwing arm "procedure" are still not known. (I think Weis is doing it to keep opposing teams guessing.)

Here is my quick prediction of this season: (I will keep it brief for now)

Week 1 – vs. Georgia Tech: (W) Road opener for GT without Reggie Ball and Calvin Johnson. New QB debut in the House that Rockne Built?

Record: 1-0

Week 2 – at Penn State (L): This one is a toss up, but Beaver Stadium will be WHITED out for this game. A young ND team might struggle to score points.

Record:1-1

Week 3 – at Michigan (W): This is one of my "upset" picks as Michigan lost a healthy crew of Seniors too. Letdown game for the Skunk Bears.

Record: 2-1

Week 4 – vs. Michigan State (W) The "flag planting" incident is still fresh in Weis' mind. Look for a fired up ND bunch to welcome MSU back to ND Stadium.
Also MSU will be breaking in a new QB and head coach.

Record: 3-1

Week 5 – at Purdue (W) If the Defense is as improved as much as ND fans anticipate, ND will simply overpower Purdue in this one.

Record: 4-1

Week 6 – at UCLA: (L) This game is actually a very tough road game, but Dorrell seems to be unable to have consistent efforts week in and week out. One week they beat USC, then they lay an egg in their bowl game. ND will need their A+ game to win @UCLA. (Currently the best team in LA!)

Record: 4-2

Week 7 – vs. Boston College (W) ND has been waiting to play BC since the Tytanic Era. Weis will have the Irish ready for BC and home field advantage will win out.

Record: 5-2

Week 8 – vs. USC: (W) Notre Dame takes a page out of UCLA's defensive playbook and gets physical with Poodle Pete's boys. This game will have an electric atmosphere like the game of 2005 that USC "won" on the Bush Push. 4th and 9 still burned into my mind.

Record: 6-2

Week 9 – vs. Navy: (W) The streak continues.

Record: 7-2

Week 10 – vs. Air Force (W) Another service academy at home? Who made this schedule, Donald Rumsfeld?

Record: 8-2

Week 11 – vs. Duke (W) The Idaho Vandals would beat Duke. Mark this one down.

Record: 9-2

Week 12 – at Stanford (W) New coach. Harbaugh might be the real deal, but Stanford will still have some growing pains.

Record: 10-2

Remember I am an Irish fan and I am chugging the Green Koolaid, but 2 years ago when Lee Corso and that idiot Mark "Urkel" May predicted Weis and ND to go 0-6. What a couple of toolsheds. The Irish may not go 10-2 like I predict, but I can guarantee they will be competitive in all of those contests.

Anyone who doesn't yet recognize what Weis is doing at ND needs to look at this year's recruiting. ND is currently #2 with 18 commits. They are a few commitments away from one of the best classes in ND history. I can't wait for all the ND Haters to go back under their rocks. It has been a long 10 years of mediocrity with Davie and Golfingham. Weis is rebuilding the Irish in a big way. 2008 will be the year!

GO IRISH

Post by **Simon Miller** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:12 pm

Vandals Vs. Trojans? Anyone care to predict the outcome of this one?

I am fairly confident that the USC prep team could beat the Erickson-less Vandals by 4+ touchdowns.

This game has NO value for USC. If John David Booty breaks his ankle in one of the myriad of post touchdown celebrations he will have that day, it will be a disaster.

The bright side, Vandal fans will get to see their Alma Mater hit the gridiron on national TV. lol

Casey Fisher · Post by **Casey Fisher** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:03 pm

Simon Miller wrote:Vandals Vs. Trojans? Anyone care to predict the outcome of this one?

The bright side, Vandal fans will get to see their Alma Mater hit the gridiron on national TV. lol

LOL Golf Coach... I just can't wait to see the point spread on this game. Is it possible for USC to be favored by 60+ points? My guess is:

USC 77 Idaho 7

Casey Fisher · Post by **Casey Fisher** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:16 pm

As far as Notre Dame goes, excellent, excellent analysis Golf Coach. I was waiting for this thread and had to get it on here... I knew it would get you pumped up... Here are my predictions without the analysis, but simply the predicted scores:

Week 1 – vs. Georgia Tech - Win - 17-10
Week 2 – at Penn State - Loss - 20-10
Week 3 – at Michigan - Loss - 34-7
Week 4 – vs. Michigan State - Win - 27-24
Week 5 – at Purdue - Win - 15-13
Week 6 – at UCLA - Loss - 27-10
Week 7 – vs. Boston College - Win 24-23
Week 8 – vs. USC - Loss 38-14
Week 9 – vs. Navy - Win 43-20
Week 10 – vs. Air Force - Win 35-21
Week 11 – vs. Duke - Win 56-7
Week 12 – at Stanford - Win 34-22

My predicted Final Record: 8-4

I definitely think that they can make it to 10-2, like Golf Coach said. However, at the same time, I think they could just as easy drop to 5-7 as well as they traditionally struggle with Michigan State and Boston College and at Purdue can prove to be difficult sometimes.

Of the 4 losses I predicted for them, despite UCLA being very improved and very good, I think the Irish can steal this one. Also, if they have dominant ball control at Penn State, they can pull it out. In my opinion, I cannot see them beating either Michigan or USC. These two teams may very well be #1 and #2 in the Nation when the first polls come out next month.

Post by **Simon Miller** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:54 pm

Rock,

Great analysis. I actually agree with you. Those losses you predicted are probably a little more realistic than mine, but as an Irish fan, I will always firmly believe that

"What tho the odds be great or small... old Notre Dame will win over all... While her loyal sons are marching onward to victory!"

Ken Lagerquist · Post by **Ken Lagerquist** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:50 am

Irish who??? LOL

Post by **Simon Miller** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:14 am

Ken Lagerquist wrote:Irish who??? LOL

Don't push your luck Lagerquist!

Casey Fisher · Post by **Casey Fisher** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:28 am

Simon Miller wrote:As an Irish fan, I will always firmly believe that

"What tho the odds be great or small... old Notre Dame will win over all... While her loyal sons are marching onward to victory!"

I gotta love the school spirit, no matter which team you cheer for Golf Coach. Despite not being a Notre Dame fan, I have to say that this is one of the absolute best School Fight Songs.

Post by **Simon Miller** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 9:35 am

Rock,

In addition to growing up an ND fan, I would have loved to go to school there. I knew it wouldn't happen, but if I had the money, that is the college I would have chosen, hands down.

When I went there for the game a few years back, the campus blew me away even more than I expected. What an awesome place.

Casey Fisher · Post by **Casey Fisher** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:41 am

Simon Miller wrote:When I went there for the game a few years back, the campus blew me away even more than I expected. What an awesome place.

What year and what game did you go to Golf Coach? That is awesome that you got to see that place and that stadium. I've heard there is nothing like it. It is a dream of mine to someday see that campus and go to a game there... I know if Texas ever plays at Notre Dame, Roops will be able to hook me up with some tickets (no pun intended).

Ken Lagerquist · Post by **Ken Lagerquist** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:25 am

There is a football team in South Bend Indiana??? LOL

Ken Lagerquist · Post by **Ken Lagerquist** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:30 am

I just want to say, i think my CU Buffs will win more than one game this year!!! Let the bashing start!!!!

Casey Fisher · Post by **Casey Fisher** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:40 am

Ken, you might be in for it being a Colorado Buffalos fan making fun of Notre Dame. Ouch!!! LOL. I think Hawkins will get Colorado on track within the next few years. They are still feeling the effects of the Woman kicker scandal etc. and are suffering from it, but I think he will lead the ship.

Ken Lagerquist · Post by **Ken Lagerquist** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:16 pm

Yea i know Casey. Im not bashing the Irish, just gotta give Simon a hard time, because we all know how die-hard his of the Irish.

I agree with you about Hawkins, he will turn that program around and it will be nice to see them kickin the Huskers butts once again. He is feeling the effects of everything you mentioned, and the poor recruiting of the years prior to him showing up.

Casey Fisher · Post by **Casey Fisher** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 7:08 am

I must say Ken, I enjoy watching them crush Nebraska almost as much as real Colorado fans do. That 62-36 thrashing the Buffs gave the Huskers in 2001 when Nebraska still made the National Title game was one of my favorite games this decade.

Ken Lagerquist · Post by **Ken Lagerquist** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 7:11 am

Oh yea, and what was best about that game, no one gave the Buffs a chance against the Huskers. I have so many friends down here in Wyoming who are husker fans, i give them crap alll the time. Down with Husker Nation!!!!!!!

Matt Morgan · Post by **Matt Morgan** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:28 pm

Florida rules until someone proves them wrong. I hope it's Free Shoes U. who does it.

KHSWILDCATS.COM

College Football 2007

How many games will Notre Dame win this year?

College Football 2007