Notre Dame Football: 10 Reasons Why They Will Win the 2011-12 BCS Championship

With their home opener versus South Florida just 46 days away, expectations seem to be rising on a daily basis for the 2011 Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Year two of the Brian Kelly era promises to be a good one with All-American talent on both sides of the ball and an incoming freshman class that boasts three elite defensive ends—something we haven't seen in South Bend since the Lou Holtz years.

The schedule is much more difficult than people will give it credit for with a number of teams that should be significantly improved over last season.

In fact, according to athlonsports.com, the Fighting Irish will face nine teams ranked in the preseason top 45—a number that is unlikely matched by any other team in the country.

On the bright side, Stanford is the only truly elite team that Notre Dame faces next season and that game will be played on the road during during the final week of the season.

There is a good chance that the Irish will be favored in their first 11 games next year. According to the oddsmakers in Las Vegas, they'll have the 13th best chance of winning the BCS National Title.

I'm here to tell you 10 reasons why Notre Dame will not only run the table in those first 11 games next season, they will win all 13 en route to their first national championship in 23 years. 

10. Veteran Secondary Led by Potential All-American Harrison Smith

For the first time in what seems like forever, the Irish will boast an above average secondary that will have a chance to be elite if the pass rush is as good as I think it's going to be.

Seniors Gary Gray and Robert Blanton will lock down opposing receivers from the cornerback position, while Gray may be mentioned amongst the nation's best by season's end.

Meanwhile, senior Harrison Smith will look to improve upon a junior season that will go down as one of the best ever for an Irish safety.  

Smith racked up 91 tackles last season to go along with seven interceptions—fourth-most in the nation.

That's three seniors in the secondary to go along with junior Zeke Motta and senior Jamoris Slaughter, who will split time at the other safety position.

9. Veteran D-Line Led by Kapron Lewis-Moore

Three more seniors will start on the defensive line led by defensive ends Kapron Lewis-Moore (62 tackles in 2010) and Ethan Johnson (34 tackles and five sacks in 2010).

Many feel that massive sophomore Louis Nix (6'3", 340 lbs.) will eventually start at nose tackle for Brian Kelly, but for now, senior Hafis Williams is listed as the starter on the depth chart.

Williams has yet to start a game in his Irish career, but did play 244 snaps on defense last season—fifth most of any Irish defensive linemen.

8. D-Line of the Future Led by Aaron Lynch Provides Most Depth Since Holtz Era

Remember these three names because you will be hearing from them A LOT over the the next three to four years considering they are all freshman.

Aaron Lynch (6'6", 245 lbs.) comes to South Bend ranked as the No. 3 strongside defense end in the country and is already listed second on the depth chart (behind Senior Kapron Lewis-Moore) after enrolling early.

Stephon Tuitt (6'5", 260 lbs.) is an absolute beast from a physical standpoint and was ranked as the number two strongside defensive end in America last year.  Many predict Tuitt is simply too good not to be starting by the end of the season.

Ishaq Williams (6'6", 230 lbs.) is another 5-star recruit who was ranked as the No. 2 weakside defensive end in the country during 2010.  Williams is the definition of a hybrid on defense and will likely stand up as an extra defensive end or play the weakside linebacker position.

I'll say it one more time folks, remember these three names, they are going to be special.

7. Elite Linebacking Group Led by All-American Manti Te'o

You would be extremely hard pressed to find a better linebacking unit in the entire country than the one in South Bend this year.

We all know that Manti Te'o (129 tackles in 2010) may very well be the best linebacker in the nation, but let's not forget about the other three.

Senior Darius Fleming racked up 5.5 sacks last season and junior Carlo Calabrese was on pace for 94 tackles last season before an injury in the eighth game of the season against Navy.

Finally, Prince Shembo (6'2", 250 lbs.) is nearly every Notre Dame fan's pick for breakout defensive player of the year in 2011.  The extremely talented sophomore racked up 4.5 sacks last season in just seven games and is someone to keep our eye on—he will be playing on Sundays three years from now.

6. Dayne Crist Will Put Up Monster Numbers in Year 2 of Brian Kelly's Offense

Dayne Crist has suffered from enough bad fortune over the past two seasons, both of which resulted in season ending knee injuries for the 6'4", 235-pound Senior from Canoga Park, CA.

The football Gods owe Dayne Crist a clean bill of health for a full season and I'm predicting he will deliver in a major way when afforded the opportunity.

Crist had a three game stretch last season that saw him throw for an average of 317 yards to go along with a total of seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

Expect to see that Dayne Crist for 13 games this year.

5. Theo Riddick's Breakout Year Will Not Be Cut Short by Injury in 2011

Explosive Junior Theo Riddick was well on his way to the breakout campaign I predicted he would have in 2010 before his season was cut short by a severe ankle injury.

Riddick had a three game stretch where he averaged 12 catches for 89 yards per game, not to mention a touchdown in all three games.

Look for Riddick to put up monster numbers this season as Michael Floyd will be commanding a double team on the other side of the field for every snap.

4. Cierre Wood Will Be the First RB Since Darius Walker to Reach 1000 Yards

Cierre Wood is my pick for breakout player of the year for the Irish in 2011 as I anticipate Wood rushing for close to 1,200 yards next season.

Wood really turned it on at the end of 2010, rushing for 258 yards on just 41 carries (6.3 yards per carry) in the last three games of the season—a pace that equates to 1,118 yards over a 13 game workload.

Wood will be a household name next year as he not only possesses the perfect combination of speed and elusiveness desired by every running back in America, he's the prototypical size (6'0", 210 lbs) of a running back that plays on Sundays.

3. David Ruffer Is the Best Kicker in the Nation

David Ruffer was a perfect 23 for 23 kicking field goals in his Notre Dame career before missing a meaningless field goal into a howling wind against Miami in the Sun Bowl last year.

I can not stress enough how important the kicking game is in college football when you most likely need to go undefeated to win a national title (last two national champions, Auburn and Alabama both went 13-0).

Notre Dame will be in a number of close games next year and you can bet that Ruffer will decide the outcome in at least one of them. 

2. Michael Floyd Will Be the Best Wide Receiver in America

Before Michael Floyd goes on to be an All-Pro on Sundays, he is going to finish his career at Notre Dame as the best wide receiver in the history of the school.

Already with 28 touchdowns in just 29 career games, the 6'3", 227-pound senior will break every receiving record in Notre Dame history in 2011.

There really is nothing left to say about Michael Floyd, other than you can count on about 80 catches for 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns next year.

1. Brian Kelly Is the Best Head Coach at Notre Dame Since Lou Holtz

Everyone knew it and everyone said it last year immediately after he was hired, Brian Kelly was special. Despite having to deal with a number of injuries to key players in 2010, Kelly managed to accomplish the following:

- Became the first head coach in Notre Dame football history to win a bowl game in his first season

- Snapped an eight game losing streak to USC.

- Led the Irish to wins in their last four games of the season, something that hadn't been done since 1992.

- Led the Irish to 3-0 November record after going a combined 1-8 in 2008 and 2009.

- Beat No. 15 Utah, their first win over a ranked opponent in 11 tries.

- During the season ending four game winning streak, Kelly's defense allowed just four touchdowns and 39 total points, the least amount of points allowed by an ND defense since 1989.

Final Prediction for Notre Dame football in 2011-12:  13-0 BCS National Champions