The Fighting Irish first 5 games!

Wow!!! I can't believe Kickoff is under 50 days away for the Irish. Hell it felt like the Hawaii bowl game was just last month and the commitment of Manti Teo was just yesterday. Even though the off season seem fast. It's never fast enough for us fans. Since I can't wait for the 2009 season to kickoff. Here are my prediction for the Irish first 5 games.

Nevada at Notre Dame

I hope this opener doesn't come down to the wire like last year opener against San Diego St. I don't expect this Nevada team to be a cupcake team but I do see the Irish slowly pulling away from the wolf pack in this game. This is the first game of the year so I expect both teams to be a little rusty at first. Coach Weis will establish a running game. Yes Jimmy Clausen and co will easily pass on this weak Nevada secondary (which rank last in almost every passing category) and make the score lop sided. But I just think Coach Weis wants to 1) Establish a running game and make improvement throughout the season and you'll have to start with game one and 2) Coach Weis want that Wolf pack offense off the field. Nevada is well known for their running game and also Nevada has a very good dual threat QB so I expect Coach Weis to take what Nevada give him. ND 38 - Nevada 20

Notre Dame at Michigan

This is Notre Dame second game of the year and it's already Michigan. If there is any fans in this nation that want the college football season to start NOW it gotta be the Michigan Wolverine fans. Michigan is coming off of a bad year in 2008 and the Wolverine are hungry to erase the 2008 season by showing the world that Michigan will not have another 3-9 season again. I believe both the Fighting Irish and the Wolverine will be looking for that 2-0 start. Yes Michigan will be a much improve team than last year but so will the Irish. Michigan return about 10 players on offense and will need to replace about 6-8 guys on defense. On the other hand the Irish return about 98% of their starters from last year. Michigan will have an improve QB this year than last year but he'll only be a "true freshman" (T. Forcier) starting his 2nd college game and his first big college career start. I see T. Focier struggling in this game due to lack of experience. Notre Dame defense will be in their 2nd year under Coach Tenuta. I expect to see the Irish defense blitzing a lot better than last year. The Irish defense will have speed at every position and will be able to contain this T. Forcier guy. I am glad though that Notre Dame will be playing Michigan in the beginning of the year. Michigan will only get better and better throughout the season. Notre Dame will be playing in The Big House so I don't expect a blowout by the Irish. ND 35 Michigan 17.

Michigan St at Notre Dame

Yep! I can still remember this day and I'll probably remember it for the rest of my life. Michigan St planting that flag in South Bend was a rub in the face in 2005. I'll never look at Michigan St the same as I use to. MSU have the Irish number at South Bend and beating Notre Dame 9 times out of the last 12 years. Michigan St did lose Hoyer and Ringer which was about 70% (99.9% of the running game was Ringer) of MSU offense from last year. MSU is known to have a solid running back year in and year out. So I expect MSU to still run the ball well even with Ringer gone. MSU will be a very solid and tough team. Mainly because MSU finally has a good discipline coach in Dantonio and I believe he's the guy to keep MSU on the map year in and year out.. With both Ringer and Hoyer gone it will be hard to replace experience. MSU QB position is up for grab with 2 really good QB. I believe both of these QB will be better than Hoyer in the future but the timing won't be soon enough for them to win in South Bend. Notre Dame will finally win one at home against MSU. ND 42 MSU 21

Purdue at Notre Dame

This game should be an easy one for the Irish. Purdue is rebuilding everywhere. I see Purdue still being lost from last year and still trying to find that first baby step. I have the Irish winning big in this one. ND 52 Purdue 10

Washington at Notre Dame

This game to me is one of those unknown games. I feel like Notre Dame should win this one but when a team that has a QB like Jake Locker it makes you second guess yourself. Yeah Washington doesn't have much talent around Locker but I feel like the Huskies will be much improve with new Coach Sarkisian. The Huskies are already bringing in good recruits and look like things are already looking brighter for the Huskies in their off season compare to all of last year put together. I find it hard for the Irish to lose this one from a team that went 0-12 just last year. However the Irish defense should be a little better prepare for a dual threat QB like Locker since the Irish already went up against 2 dual threat QB in the beginning of the year ( Nevada- Kaepernick & Michigan T. Forcier). ND 45 Wash 20