Notre Dame Football: Projecting opponent records on game day
Notre Dame’s schedule looks tough in the pre-season. But how tough will it look at game time?
One thing you can’t deny about Notre Dame Football — and some people do, anyways — is they always play a quality schedule.
Every year, USC, Stanford and a rotating ACC schedule provides it’s challenges. Schedules in the past bring those games, plus top competition like Oklahoma, Texas, Michigan, Michigan State and Clemson.
Last year’s schedule looked daunting at best. But by the time the games were played, everything was different.
Nobody expected the bottom to fall out of Florida State, who at one time looked like a real challenge. USC was a major disappointment, as was the trip to Virginia Tech. And nobody expected Syracuse to be the highest ranked team Notre Dame played all season.
Today, we’ll look at the Notre Dame schedule and project the records of each opponent at the time of the game, starting with the month of September.
Game 1: @ Louisville: 0-0
Hot take: Louisville will not have a loss when they host the Irish. (Stay tuned for the real hot take.)
Game 2: New Mexico: 1-0
Although FCS, Sam Houston State is no slouch. They’re coming off a down season, but still a top 25 team. New Mexico should win, especially given it’s a home game, but don’t be surprised if New Mexico rolls into South Bend at 0-1.
Game 3: @ Georgia: 3-0
Georgia is one of the best teams in the country, and they’ve been oh-so-close to knocking off Alabama in each of the last two seasons. This may be the best Kirby Smart coached Georgia team yet. Vanderbilt, Murray State and Arkansas State aren’t exactly stiff competition for a team with the talent of Georgia. It’s entirely possible that none of those three games are decided by less than 21 points.
Game 4: Virginia: 4-0
In a wacky Coastal Division that can be won by almost any team in the division, Virginia is right at the top of that list. They should have beat both Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech last season, but collapsed in both games. I’m a big believer in the Cavaliers this season. Pitt, William & Mary, Florida State and Old Dominion are before a trip to South Bend. I think Virginia wins all of those based off superior talent as well as a home field advantage against Florida State.