Frankie V’s Prediction: Notre Dame v. Boston College ’17
Notre Dame looks to get back in the win column this weekend with a trip to Boston College to take on the Eagles in the Holy War – a rivalry that might be just a bit one sided, but a rivalry none the less. The Irish are licking their wounds from yet another close loss this time at the hands of Georgia. Will Notre Dame rebound by taking out some frustration on an inferior team or will they play another close game against a team with less talent?
How’d We Do Last Week
Unfortunately, pretty good. I predicted a two point Notre Dame loss and the Irish lost by one. I was concerned with Notre Dame trying a trick play and sure enough they ran one on their first offensive snap of the game. That just set a bad tone for the rest of the game. When you run a trick play the first play of the game you are telling the opposing team you don’t think you can beat them straight up. And from that point on, Georgia owned the trenches when the Irish held the football.
Where I was way off last week was in thinking Notre Dame would be able to run the ball. The Irish offensive line was thrown around by Georgia in a performance that will be jumping out to NFL scouts scrutinizing Notre Dame’s NFL bound linemen in the off-season.
I was also worried the Georgia ground game would gash Notre Dame, but both of UGA’s NFL caliber backs were held under 100 yards. Hats off to my man Mike Elko for scheming up a way to slow down the Georgia backs and to the Irish interior defense for holding up at the point of attack.
What Concerns Me This Week
Notre Dame’s Other Wide Receivers. Will someone, anyone, stand up opposite Equanimeous St. Brown? I don’t care who at this point but someone has to. If it’s a case of Brian Kelly just not playing someone to prove a point, well that backfired. If we see Chase Claypool lined up opposite St. Brown and Michael Young in the slot, I would be not be upset at all. And where has Miles Boykin been? He had a great spring but he’s been invisible on the season. Right now my confidence is low that Notre Dame gets the receiver mix right this weekend.
Play Calling. Take out all of the trick plays from the playbook this weekend and save them for a time they are needed. This is an inferior team that Notre Dame should be able to do almost anything they want on offensively. Line up and run the offense and forget any gimmicks. We’ll see if that happens this weekend. Based on last week, I have my doubts.
What Doesn’t Concern Me This Week
Brandon Wimbush. Kid had a bad game last week. Happens to the best of them. Everett Golson’s first night game at Notre Dame (Michigan 2012) was a disaster and that Michigan team was not nearly as good as this Georgia team. And yes, I know maybe Golson isn’t the best example. Still, I’m not concerned with Wimbush at all this weekend. I think we see him flash his immense potential with a big game. Two touchdowns in the air and two on the ground for Wimbush this weekend.
Equanimeous St. Brown. He had a very quiet game against Georgia despite being targeted often. Boston College is going to bring their safeties down to stop the run. ESB will get behind the Boston College defense at least once for a long touchdown. Once the Irish hit the Eagles deep, it’ll open things up a bit on the ground and that’s when Wimbush gets in the endzone with his legs.
Notre Dame’s Offensive Line. Doubling down here. Mike McGlinchey bounces back big time this week and Notre Dame controls the line of scrimmage. BC is going to stack the box so the rushing totals might not be Temple level impressive, but they will certainly be better than last week. Wimbush will also have enough time in the pocket to make plays downfield with his. arm.
Anything Boston College Has on Offense. Boston College’s offense is not very good and it hasn’t been for a while. Notre Dame’s defense is improving and Mike Elko is proving to be the real deal early on. If he can devise a way to keep those Georgia backs under control, he won’t have a problem keeping Boston College in neutral all day. The Notre Dame defense will shine again this week.
Players to Watch
- Brandon Wimbush. See comments above.
- Jerry Tillery. Boston College has a freshman center starting. Tillery shines this week after having a couple of good under the radar performances the last two weekends.
- Dexter Williams. He will rip off a long run or two and the Notre Dame Twitterverse will meltdown. My Notre Dame text chain will blow up. And I will get yelled at for yelling at the TV.
- Nick Coleman. He had a hell of a game against Georgia, but I can see the Eagles testing him early.
- Mike McGlinchey. Already said he will bounce back, but hoping to see a mean streak come out in him. Take out your frustrations on Boston College young man.
- Alize Mack. I thought he would breakout last week and it didn’t happen. One of Wimbush’s two touchdowns this week, one will be to Mack down the seam.
- Daelin Hayes. He gets back in the sack column this week.
- Nyles Morgan. This is the week we see him get double digits in sacks.
- Drue Tranquill. He’ll be involved in another turnover this weekend.
Prediction Time
I was really worried last week and predicted a loss. This week, I’m not worried at all. I know that almost every Notre Dame – Boston College game is close, but I don’t care. Notre Dame is going to win this game pretty handily and the issue will never be in doubt. Wimbush gets back on track and the Irish roll into East Lansing next weekend with some confidence.
Without even looking up my pre-season prediction, I thought the exact same thing so let’s roll with it.
Prediction: Notre Dame 35, Boston College 10
Pre-Season Prediction: Notre Dame 35, Boston College 10
Frank Vitovitch has been Co-Owner and Editor in Chief of UHND.com since joining forces with Kyle Flavin in 1999. Since that time, he has written over 2,000 articles covering Notre Dame football, recruiting, and basketball. He also works with all staff and external writers on all articles published on UHND.com. Frank's love for Notre Dame football started at a young age watching Rocket Ismail give opposing coaches ulcers in the late 1980's. By day Frank works in marketing and holds a degree in Digital Media from Drexel University. Frank's work has been cited by online/print editions of NBC Sports, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated and has been quoted on air by ESPN's Collin Cowherd. He's conducted interviews with Notre Dame legends Rocket Ismail, Randy Kinder, Lee Becton, Reggie Brooks, Michael Stonebreaker, and Ned Bolcar among others over his 20+ years of covering Notre Dame football. He's also been published in the print edition of USA Today Sports Weekly and the USA Today College Football Preview multiple times. Other Published Works/Citations for Frank Three Reasons Notre Dame Will Beat Alabama - USA Today Notre Dame Suspends WR Kevin Stepherson, RB C.J. Holmes Indefinitely - Bleacher Report Notre Dame / Ohio State Fiesta Bowl Preview - Eleven Warriors Brace Yourself: The Fighting Irish are Relevant Again - Sports on Earth Interviews with the Enemy: A Q&A with Frank Vitovitch of UHND - Yahoo! Sports Five Good Minutes: Notre Dame Football Preview With UHND.com - BC Interruption Vicious Electronic Questioning with UHND - MGO Blog
Wimbush is a great athlete but definitely gets ansy in the pocket and lacks vision downfield. So a good coaching staff would have seen this months ago – the best thing they could have done is cemented the receiving corp very early on so the guy can at least get used to them. Instead ND brought in and started 2 graduate transfers … I mean who does that??????
This means Wimbush never really got comfortable with his receivers (which is why he stares down St Brown every play) So
when your uncomfortable you do what your good at – being an athlete.
Now ND did just win big … against a decent BC defense … but this won’t cut it against better competition….
and why the heck is Dexter Williams still only rushing 6 times? And where is Myles Boykin, Javon McKinley and what the heck is going on with Stepherson?????????
love the defense scheme …. when you have better athletes make it simple and let them play.
Elko for HC!!
Is the talent on this team on par with Oklahoma State? Is this team executing on the level of Oklahoma State? If not, why not?
Love it when a dude on his couch calls elite athletes gutless.
As opposed to a you, “Burgie” sitting on what, making useless observations and adding nothing to this board?! “Burgie” is the embodiment of gutless.
Frank, hope you got a good prediction for next week. You were only 4points off the mark.
Based on these comments you would think Notre Dame just lost. Geez. Maybe enjoy a 29 point win in which Notre Dame ran for 500+ yards?
How many yards did the Irish run for against UGA, Frank? I guess for you Temple and BC are ND’s measuring stick. Perhaps you should start a blog for them. Mediocrity loves company!
I’m sorry Frank that was not an impressive win, let me know when they beat a quality team by that much, then I will have reasons for celebration.
Time to take stock:
Kickoff, kickoff return team, punt, punt return team- mediocre.
Defensive line- regressed to average (against a patchwork o line)
Linebacker play- average
D backs- average
Overall defensive tackling- mediocre to Poor especially in the open field
Offensive play calling- mediocre to Poor (How many times do you have to lose on the sideline pass before you realize it doesn’t work?)
O line blocking- average. Better on right than left. And, false starts anyone.
Wide receiver play- average? Separation?
Qb play- poor to very poor. Simply cannot pass. Just not a passer. Can’t win with a one dimensional Offense. Just can’t.
Josh Adams- carried the team. Without him, ND doesn’t win.
SFR, O U 1. Thanks for the commentary. 21 4th Qtr. points, thats unheard of.
Too bad the old Big East isn’t around anymore in football. ND might have a chance there.
I guess we won’t hear from “Anus Eagle” for another year.
Well, Greg, the “great” ND D just gave up a long BC TD drive. So it’s not over yet. BK might still be gone in an hour if ND pulls a historic choke job.
SFR,
Just put the rake in the shed. Wish I could be celebrating at Knockout Kellys in Boston Tonight. Jobs are still secure?
Why they refuse to put Dexter Williams in the game is beyond me. Not only is he faster than Adams, but he runs better between the tackles….Can we atleast just throw him in the slot? There is obviously something going on when probably the best athlete on the team is riding the pine….play your Playmakers, its simple.
Looks like Notre Dame is finally going to pull away from that JV team. The pie in the sky crew on this site will be ecstatic.
I’m not impressed. A win is a win but seriously this ND team is not very good. I would rank them towards the bottom of the
Top 50
So long as ND plays the likes of Temple and BC everything will be OK.
96 passing yards will work vs USC, right?
I wonder if running it up the gut with Adams will be our bread and butter all year long
Good news, Greg, ND’s top RBs, including Wimbush, just put up ND by 2 scores.
ND lucky that BC is so bad!
The backup BC O line is better than the “stud” ND O line, with allegedly 2 first round picks, both of whom have more penalties than pancakes!
The BC offensive line is comprised entirely of backups, and Winbush still can’t move the ball
Sorry, Greg, really nothing good to report about this team or game. Another, get ready for it “Burgy,” gutless performance.
BC getting ready to take the lead late in the third.
This program is going nowhere fast with BK. Bottom line.
SFR, thanks for keeping me up to date, I was just out raking. I don’t get espn. And your updates are better than the BY U /Wisconsin slugfest! Hope you got good news to announce , later.
You’re Raking? Wow! Helluva Plan B
Plan B creativity is encouraged.
I have the sinking feeling ND loses this game with a late BC FG a la Josh Gordon in 93.
Josh??
This is a poorly coached team. PERIOD!
I’m not surprised
Wow, just a useless passing game!
Thankfully BC is not a very good team.
The kickoff man can’t even get it past the 20-yard line
If wimbush cant hit his receivers, turn him into a running back.
BC’s quarterback is so much more accurate than Wimbush it’s not even funny.
If BC had a consistent O, this game would be a rout in their favor.
I expect “Angry (Anus) Eagle” to reappear tonight after six years.
I feel so blessed to have an offensive guru such as Chip Long running the show. The results are astonishing.
It is truly a sight to behold. Kind of like watching the greatest show on turf St alouis Rams from 99-03, wouldn’t you agree. The delayed hand off realllly works well. I hope they are able to throw a 2 yard completed pass via screen here soon.
And based on what I saw today, Memphis seems to be doing fine without him
Play calling and execution. Other than that, this is a great team!
Agree, 12-0 except for those 2 things, oh and lack of skill players, decent head coaching…. I think thats it.
Yup, pretty much ND football is as good as Bama if it weren’t for administration, coaches, trainers, players, cheerleaders, etc. Perhaps the Irish have a mascot edge.
Way to follow your blockers dipshit quaterback. God I hate this play calling and execution.
Pretty sure god is not calling the plays.
I don’t believe you understand the english language Ron. Do you drink as much cum as your mother does?
God has made some nice adjustments here if he is indeed calling the plays.
I love this play calling. Not as much as I love forcing my balloon knot shank into Ron Burgundy’s rewarding mud flaps #ThinkAboutIt
OK, calm down with the foul language, Mz. Stick to football talk and keep the offensive language to yourself.
BTW: If you’re not an ND fan, then you’re a loser being on here. Nothing better to do?!
Yes a diehard ND fan and alum, 2002. And thats just the vocabulary, there are no bad words only bad people.
Mz,
Frankie V. and the pie-in-the-sky group will tell you just that!
Someone want to tell me that this is a 10-2 team, bullshit.
I’ll say it right now. If ND loses this game, even by one point, BK should resign at his press conference.
He should resign at halftime
Should but would you when you’re fleecing this team/university for millions, would you? Money beats pride anyday.
Or you could pay him to go away ala Chucky Cheese Weis
Here we go again! Again!!!
3 and17 and you call draw, nice play calling.
Lousy O!
For Notre Dame fans this game will be a yawner or a horribly frustrating experience. Last week being yet another repeat of so many “last weeks” since 1997.
Faculty selling tickets to Georgia fans. More off the field issues. Kelly showing how frustrated he is just under the skin. Until the University admits that it’s no longer a premier football hub, it can’t come back.
For those who want that return to greatness, there has to be an admission by all especially inside Notre Dame that the football program is good not great. They need to start over. They haven’t done that yet.
Everyone expects ND to beat BC comfortably.
Disagree.
BC LIVES to beat N.D. and they will play way over their heads to win this game. And – how is ND going to come back after last week’s heartbreaker? It comes down to coaching, and methinks that BK is over his head.
Hope I’m wrong, I don’t get ESPN so I can’t watch.
BGC,
Since this is free for all Saturday, your turn, After the infamous 10-10 kissing your sister scene, Ara pounded the Trojanz 51-0 in 1966. Worse thing he could have done. John MCKay LIVED to beat the Irish after that. If you recall an unknown, soon to be well known Orenthal James ( Jay, as John McKay called him) Simpson came into South Bend and exploded.
Greg, OJ exploded for two ties after that if I remember correctly, in 68 and 69. Did USC kiss their sister (twice)?
Bruce G. Curme ’77 ’82
Boston College 23
Notre Dame 16.
ESB gets doubled down Wimbush
shut down. Irish eastbound and go down.
Kelly’s homecoming will see Eagles soaring.
Brian Kelly is a good coach team is underachieving
He’ll be gone after another 4 win season. My
opinion not that it matters.
Always , always a great day to pound Fredo like the trash they are
Burgie, Jeff,
For your esoteric information it was Dick Lane who coined the “Whoa, Nellie” not Keith Jackson for sports announcing . Lane wore a monocle when announcing wrestling and roller derby in SoCal. Copycats.
Frank, I agree on the bounce back by McGlinchey…but not just by him, by the whole “O” line. He wasn’t the only guy on that line to play a sub-par game and I don’t think he’ll be the only one playing angry!
Remember what ARA teams used to do to the team they met the week following a loss. Sometimes it got pretty ugly. Sometimes it got pretty elegant in the area of execution…but one thing it always got was a WIN! That’s why ARA was ARA.
Finally, I also agree with Duranko and Damian about Wimbush. It was his second game, dudes, and he wasn’t getting acceptable blocking, amongst other problems; and I’m sure he’d never seen a front 7 that quick in his life. I’m not sure I have either! The Georgia loss was not on him! He too bounces back.
Bruce G. Curme ’77 ’82
I haven’t seen Notre Dame play ‘angry’ in a long time.
Jeff, you were right last week, but, this week you’re going to be dead wrong, can’t wait to here your excuse. “Jeff resigns” your headline.
Greg i sense you’re a bit nervous and bewildered right now as this game approaches the start of 3rd qtr.
Yawn, Wimbush had a tough time against Georgia’s Top 5 defense in his second collegiate start.
Check out the esteemed Joey T, even after he played in ’68, in his junior year in ’69.
He struggle mightily in his, VOILA, second start, a 28-14 loss to Purdue.
Then he went onward and upward.
I just don’t understand fans. College football, and player’s trajectories, are not a snapshot, but a narrative.
As an instructive comparison, please plot the career arcs of Hayes, Jay, and Coleman, Nick. When Wimbush puts it all together, this is going to be a lot of fun.
And for those who understand that this is not static state, by dynamic and organic, it is fun ALREADY.
Enjoy……
19-17 Boston College. Yoon misses 48 yard FG on last play of game. Kelly resigns.
Whoa
Nellie!
That’s a gutsy call. BC is always a tough opponent
Frank, now, I hope your assessment is correct this week. To bad Doug Flutie isn’t on the tube to see his team get dismembered. He almost ate crow last week. Notre Dame 30 Bos Coll. 10. At least we will still cover.
I predict this game will be a win also. I actually think ND would have to try to lose this one. With the defense making improvements I don’t see BC scoring a lot.
I also am not having a panic attack about Wimbush at this point. I find it amusing some fans are already calling for Book based on one play last week. Wimbush’s issues last week were one part mistakes, but 2 parts poor O-line. Even the best QB’s have a hard time making good plays without a good O-line. I’m a fan of the NY Giants and I can tell you a poor O-line can make the best QB’s look awful (a shame my 2 football teams can’t seem to field a dominant O-line—though the NY Giants line is actually worse, ugh against the Cowboys no less–they are the Michigan and Miami of the NFL).