[ASH0479]

Interesting game, both teams played really well in their first games respectively...line opens at -4.5 on scoresandodds and is down to -3....and COvers is showing 82% on ND...Interesting??

Thoughts?

[jrowe]

i am a huge notre dame and rarely bet them. i dont like to bet on emotion as it usually burns me in the end, but i bet them last week and prolly will this week. i think that charlie has the team going in the right direction. i like notre dame up to 6.5.

[MartinBlank]

I have no emotion attached to ND either way.

What surprised me watching them is their team speed on defense. Nevada is a good offensive football team, ask Boise State. Nevada put up 34 on them last year, and Nevada had 8 starters returning---including 3-1000 yard rushers. I still don't understand how ND shut them out. Weis also took his foot off the pedal at they went up 35-0. He had his scrubs playing for a quarter and a half, and didn't throw the ball. That game could have easily been 49-0 if Weis wanted to run up the score.

Michigan also looked good. And Forcier is much better than anything they had last year. I think playing a team that runs the spread gave ND an advantage. And when you give Tenuta that much time to prepare for an offense, he is a very good defensive coach.

I also don't think Michigan has the corners to cover those two receivers ND has. Floyd is a beast, and Tate has been on pre-season AA teams. Throw in that tight end, Rudolph, and I just don't see Michigan being able to cover. Michigan's defensive success depends on being able to get to Clausen.

[MSUSpartan32]

Good points, Martin.

The one concern I would have if playing ND was their run defense between the tackles. If Minor is returning from injury, I do think they can exploit that part of the ND defense.

I really don't feel like I have a good enough gauge on either team to play the game...

I have no emotion attached to ND either way.

What surprised me watching them is their team speed on defense. Nevada is a good offensive football team, ask Boise State. Nevada put up 34 on them last year, and Nevada had 8 starters returning---including 3-1000 yard rushers. I still don't understand how ND shut them out. Weis also took his foot off the pedal at they went up 35-0. He had his scrubs playing for a quarter and a half, and didn't throw the ball. That game could have easily been 49-0 if Weis wanted to run up the score.

Michigan also looked good. And Forcier is much better than anything they had last year. I think playing a team that runs the spread gave ND an advantage. And when you give Tenuta that much time to prepare for an offense, he is a very good defensive coach.

I also don't think Michigan has the corners to cover those two receivers ND has. Floyd is a beast, and Tate has been on pre-season AA teams. Throw in that tight end, Rudolph, and I just don't see Michigan being able to cover. Michigan's defensive success depends on being able to get to Clausen.

[MartinBlank]

Good points, Martin.

The one concern I would have if playing ND was their run defense between the tackles. If Minor is returning from injury, I do think they can exploit that part of the ND defense.

I really don't feel like I have a good enough gauge on either team to play the game...

MSU....I agree 100%.

But I was listening to Rivals Radio this morning with Bill King--and per King---that was ND's gameplan. I thought EXACTLY like you posted until I heard this. Tenuta is his news conference said that ND was going to stay out of the 1-gap and try and prevent Kaepernick from getting on the outside. Tenuta said that Kaepernick on the perimeter of ND's defense would have caused them fits. So basically they moved their tackles into the 2-gap, and allowed their LBs to try and make the play in space.

As you pointed out, Minor can run.

A stat that Bill King pointed out shocked me. A Jon Tenuta coached defense is 18-1 when facing a true freshman QB.

[ASH0479]

I don't believe you saw everything that Michigan has to offer on offense in the first game either...

If ND tries to stack the 1 gap and middle, watch out for shoelace on the outside. I was truly impressed with the speed of Michigan on defense as well, you can definately tell this is a new Michigan football team...Western Michigan although no ND on offense, had a top 8 QB under center and did nothing right...

I may lay off this game just to watch, but the reverse line movement really attracted my attention

[MartinBlank]

I don't believe you saw everything that Michigan has to offer on offense in the first game either...

If ND tries to stack the 1 gap and middle, watch out for shoelace on the outside. I was truly impressed with the speed of Michigan on defense as well, you can definately tell this is a new Michigan football team...Western Michigan although no ND on offense, had a top 8 QB under center and did nothing right...

I may lay off this game just to watch, but the reverse line movement really attracted my attention

Again, I have no dog in this fight from a fan perspective.

Western Michigan may in fact have a great QB in Hiller----what they don't have are two receivers and a tight end that ND has. Tate lit up Michigan last year, and Floyd may be better.

Don't get me wrong. I think Michigan definitely has speed on offense to cause ND fits.

But the more I cap this game, the more I like ND.

[brooks85]

what surprises me is why anyone would bet on either of these teams in this matchup.

[Famou$ $wag]

im on michigan

[ZBOIZ]

This will be a good game. I will just be watching this game. But I do believe Michigan will be a better team this year. And if Michigan will gove that man a chance he will be running the BIG 10! Simply because he will bring speed to that team that other big 12 schools dont have. He already have recruited some of that speed with them nice freshman QB's he have.

[Cougar Bait]

Z, you mean Big 10?

[ZBOIZ]

Z, you mean Big 10?

my bad..Big 10..sorry about that guys

[Rixsaw]

I think Michigan will roll in this game. The big advantage here is Michigan is playing at home. Michigan or no play for me. BOL.

[MSUSpartan32]

Amazing how beating one MAC team for a half gets Michigan all this respect........