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Notre Dame Football: Projecting opponent records on game day

By Sonny Martinez

PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish shakes hands with head coach David Shaw of the Stanford Cardinal after they game at Stanford Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish shakes hands with head coach David Shaw of the Stanford Cardinal after they game at Stanford Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 01: Zach Gentry #83 of the Michigan Wolverines fails to complete a pass in the second quarter as Alohi Gilman #11 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish defends at Notre Dame Stadium on September 1, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Game 5: Bowling Green: 1-3

Bowling Green wasn’t good last season, and could be in for just as rough a season. They do have 12 starters back, so there is experience. The Falcons should beat Morgan State to open the season, but games at Kansas State and home against Louisiana Tech will be too much. Kent State, another MAC doormat in recent years, is a toss up game, but an improved Kent State team should pick up the win.

Game 6: USC: 3-2

Here’s where the schedule picks up for the Irish, and here’s the hot take. I’m not a believer in USC at all this season. It’s possible (unlikely, but possible) USC is 1-4 going into this game. Fresno State is a great team, but USC has superior talent. BYU should be a win, as well. Stanford lost a ton of talent, and the game is in the Coliseum, so I’ll give the win to USC. As for the two losses, Utah at home and at Washington back-to-back are tough, as I believe those two teams will play in the Pac-12 Title game. Both teams are playoff contenders, and I won’t even call them darkhorses. USC loses both.

Game 7: @ Michigan: 6-1

Michigan will be another tough out. They’re projected as a Playoff team by a lot of people. They lost a ton of talent, especially on defense, as well as the suspension of running back Chris Evans. Middle Tennessee, Army (although tough,) Rutgers, Indiana and Penn State all should be wins. A road trip to Wisconsin will be tough, and if they can find a quarterback, the Badgers could very well come away with the win. But I think the loss comes to Iowa. It’s a classic trap game: a good team, sandwiched between two cellar dwellers in the Big 10. Iowa is loaded with NFL talent, and they’re not being talked up enough. Although, one loss won’t be enough to put a damper on things when Notre Dame arrives in Ann Arbor.

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