AP Top 25: Florida #1

I agree, but then we will hear about how Weis got them back to a BCS Bowl, he'll get an extension, the ND is Back! hype will be sickening and a team like Ohio State, Texas or Alabama will get to hang 50 on them on New Year's Day. But they are better than people think. Not a NC contender, but not five losses. No way.

 

The Irish have great receivers. I'm not really sold on Clausen, but if the line can protect him (which I'm not assuming), it could be a much better season. But I really think they could be 2-2 after four games and 3-3 after six. And 4-4 after eight. And 8-4 or 7-5 after 12.

 

Michigan State, USC, Boston College, Pitt and Stanford.

It's going to be a miserable October and November in South Bend.

 

Perhaps, but then you have to endure a season of the bandwaginbois jumping on...

 

So if ND does well then Bandwagon Boy is coming back here? Oh, joy! Oh, yay! I can't wait!

 

Depends on whether or not Pitt can find a quarterback. Don't rule out UCONN either.

 

Pitt will lose to Syracuse and Youngstown state, then turn around and beat ND.

 

I, too, think Notre Dame will easily get 9, 10 wins. It's a relatively cupcake schedule. I think 4-1 heading into USC is very likely.

 

Notre Dame has a cupcake schedule for a good team, which they are not and have not been for a while. In the past two years they've lost to Navy, a Pitt team that was playing without its starting QB, a horrible Syracuse and they were a blown call away from a near upset at home by San Diego State. I could easily see them going 0-for-Michigan this year.

 

I interviewed Bruce Snyder once - he told me something that has stuck with me - for every game one team is circling as a probable win, there is probably another team that is also circling that game. Notre Dame isn't good enough - hasn't been for a while - to chalk any team on their schedule. They're playing too many teams that are looking at that game as a "breakthrough" game to assume anything. And Carlton, I'll take that bet - granted I've been drinking a bit tonight - but if Notre Dame is undefeated when they play USC I'll change my avatar to a picture of Chuck Weis or Mitt Romney with the caption "I lost a bet to CarltonBanks." If I win I want your avatar to be an Oregon State logo or a pic of Obama's "hope logo."

 

Anyone who assumes ND will win those games or the one at Stanford does so at their own risk. Notre Dame is not good enough to assume they're a 10-win team. They might win 10, but I wouldn't call it a safe bet.

 

Exactly. This is the same Irish team that lost to Syracuse!!!1! How anyone can pencil in wins at this point is crazy, never mind 10 wins. BC, Pitt, Mich St. will be tough for the Irish. UConn might even hang around and give them a run for the money. Most likely will make a bowl, but am not seeing the love for a top 10 finish.