Just the season do not include bowl games or playoffs.
Based on (a) losing two offensive linemen in the top 10 picks in the draft, (b) expecting ND to regress after a big improvement form 2016 to 2017, and (c) Kelly being a career 8-5 coach at ND.
I did not foresee our opponents all having down years or the emergence of Ian Book. Who did?
This prediction was made with the belief that Brandon Wimbush would be our QB for the whole season, and that he would have developed into a more serviceable quarterback. I figured on our dropping 2 of 4 between Michigan, Stanford, Florida State, and USC.
My belief was that we would still end up in a NY6 bowl (no playoffs), and have a fair chance of winning it.
I felt pretty optimistic about the defense, that they would be running a familiar scheme, and that another year of development, as well as strength and conditioning, would make them stronger than last year's.
I didn't count on the following, though:
1) Brian Kelly finally having the fortitude to replace Wimbush with Book, and open up the entire offense.
2) The development of our WR / TE corp as a result of the above
3) Stanford having Bryce Love at a 80% strength, at best
4) Willie Taggart making FSU stink even more
5) USC not having developed along the way as expected
I felt like this team could do it, but honestly kept waiting for Kelly to fuck it up somewhere and lose one.
Does that mean Holtz screwed up when we had 4 consecutive number 1 ranked recruiting classes and we only had one undefeated season?
If the losses were due to another pass happy in a hurricane game plan type of situation, then yeah, I would put them on Kelly.
If injuries mounted or cost us wins then no I wouldn't, I'd call that bad luck.
...the eye of a needle)
Will be a little easier if we put up a very competitive showing in the playoffs this year.
Would be considerably helped for the future were ND to win.
. . . next year in Athens, but otherwise wins out. And if UGA is as good as expected (possible #1). I could see a 1-loss ND getting in. Depending on what else happens, obviously. Things would have to fall into place.
by this year, ND is not even sniffing the playoffs like tOSU was.
ND also needs a late, preferably convincing, win over a top notch opponent to counter the conference championship bias.
...primarily because I did not make a prediction.
description of reason for saying "11.5".
I actually give extra credit for identifying Pitt as a source of worry.
Michigan will be the game that sets the tone for the entire season, just like Texas 2 years ago, this game is going to make or break the year. A big win here, I would dare to say that they should win 11 and maybe 12. A close win, 10-11 is realistic. A close loss, 9-10. A big loss, 8-9. I hope the team comes out hungry, motivated, and angry.
would win a natty this year—back before the season started. I am sticking with my fearless prediction as I believe our fellas are strong on both O and D but not so much on STs. I hope the ST deficiencies don’t hinder our progress. So far, what an awesome season this has been and one, I believe, to be remembered for the ages. GO IRISH GO!!
And in doing so would tear it up.
