If you’re a Notre Dame football fan, I’m sure you said to yourself last weekend: “now that’s how you open the season!”
Absolutely annihilating your first opponent- that’s the best way to move past a disastrous season last year, and that’s exactly what the Fighting Irish did with a total destruction of Temple, 49-16. Now the stakes get significantly raised as the Irish punch up a few weight classes.
The Fighting Irish troika of Josh Adams (161), Dexter Williams (124) and Brandon Wimbush (106) are believed to be the first Notre Dame football trio to each run for 100 yards in a game since at least 1954.
We say “at least” ’54 and “believed to be” because that’s how far the record keeping on this goes back.
KICKOFF: 7:30 EST
SPREAD: Notre Dame football -6.5
Notre Dame football preview:
Given what a disaster last year was on the defensive side of the ball, the Irish obtaining four sacks and 11 tackles for loss against anybody is huge progress. While Temple is starting over with Geoff Collier now (Matt Rhule left to preside over the Baylor dumpster fire), they did win double digits in each of the past two seasons.
The Irish were very impressive on defense, but it was on the other side of the ball where they really stood out.
ND gained over 500 yards of total offense to open a season for the sixth time since 2009, finishing the day with 606. Wimbush became Notre Dame’s 24th different starting quarterback since 1985. The Irish are 18-6 (.750) in those games featuring a first-time starter under center.
Notre Dame improved to 10-2 (.833) in such games at Notre Dame Stadium. For much more on Wimbush and what he brings to the table go to this link.
“I thought that for a guy starting for the first time, he provided some excitement and energy to the offense,” Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly said of Wimbush after his week one performance.
“You know, he’s got — I think everybody that watched him can see the tools that he has; the ability to run, throw the football. He’s tough. He got hit today; got back up.”
For more on the rest of the Notre Dame football position groups, read our full in-depth season preview over at this link.
Georgia Bulldogs Preview:
The Bulldogs were 31-10 winners over Appalachian State in week one, but they will be sans QB1 Jacob Eason for this one. A sprained ligament in his left knee means that Eason will miss a significant amount of time, however he won’t need surgery.
“He’ll be back from it. He’ll be back this year,” said Georgia head coach Kirby Smart.
They’ll now turn to true freshman Jake Fromm, here’s an interesting tidbit about the rookie:
ESPN broadcast mentioned Georgia FR QB Jake Fromm knew 50% of playback entering App State game. A lot of 3 step drops.
— Darin Pritchett (@961Sportsbeat) September 4, 2017
This is why the Irish are favored as heavily as they are in this game, and also why Vegas wouldn’t even put it on the board until we knew some more definitive news about the Bulldogs QB situation.
Here’s how Kelly responded when asked about going against Fromm, who is obviously making his :
“Well, certainly both quarterbacks are at Georgia because they’re capable of being a starting quarterback. You’re going to obviously respect the fact that Georgia has built their offense around two outstanding senior running backs, and they’re not going to put either quarterback in a position that they have to go out and win the football game.
“They’re going to be certainly asked to take care of the football, be smart, make good decisions.”
Kelly also said his preparation won’t change much from the opening week; despite the obvious step up in weight class, opponent wise. “Our preparation won’t change,” Kelly said.
“There’s different tactical things that we’ll change because the opponent changes, but our preparation won’t change.”
Kelly also added that he’s familiar with both Eason and Fromm from the recruiting trail. Just, whatever you do, don’t ask Kelly any questions about DeShone Kizer, because (as you can see from this link) he’s had more than his fill of those queries.
The two senior running backs Kelly alluded to are Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. Chubb has major NFL Draft potential, and could carry on the Bulldogs storied tradition at the position, most recently with Knowshon Moreno and Todd Gurley. It continues next year as the nation’s #1 rated running back, Zamir White, comes to UGA as Chubb and Michel depart.
Prediction for novelty purposes only: Notre Dame football 27, Georgia Bulldogs 20
Luck of the Irish indeed, as they get to avoid Eason and provide a very tall order for Fromm. On the road in South Bend, for a national prime time game, is not an ideal way to be thrown to the wolves.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now and Minute Media. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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