Brian Kelly

College Football Week 1 Picks

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By Erich R Pilcher

There is an old saying, “Fall seven times, stand up eight.” I must be a subconscious believer in that because even after my debacle that was picking the NCAA Tournament, I’m back here each Friday to pick the biggest College Football games of the week. 

To start us out on the honest path, last night I told someone I was picking West Virginia to upset Pittsburgh in the return of the “Backyard Brawl” game. Well, the Panthers won by seven. Thus I have started this season 0-1. Hopefully, I rebound with the following picks and start the year off right. 

(5) Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs (2) Ohio State Buckeyes

7:30 PM EST on ABC 

This is the premier match-up of Week One with two College Football blue bloods squaring off in Columbus. Notre Dame brings a talented, but unproven roster into this game led by new Head Coach Marcus Freeman (also an Ohio State graduate and former linebacker) and Redshirt Sophomore Quarterback Tyler Buchner (making his first career start). Meeting them is the potent Buckeye offense led by preseason Heisman Trophy front-runner, Quarterback C.J. Stroud. 

The cupboard is not bare for the Irish. They return many from a defense that was excellent last season. Returning are Defensive End Isiah Foskey, Jason Ademiola, and Line Backer Bo Bauer. They also added Northwestern Graduate Transfer Safety Brandon Joseph (to replace the superstar Cornerback, now Baltimore Raven, Kyle Hamilton). This is going to be key to slowing down Stroud and the Buckeye offense that is built around explosive plays. 

The biggest question is can the Irish score enough? They do have arguably the top Tight End in the county Micheal Mayer and Buchner showed last year in spot duty he can certainly make plays (mostly on the run). But will that be enough to keep pace with an offense that scored 45.7 points per game last season, returns key cogs in Wide Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (last season broke the single-season and single-game school records in yards and receptions), and Running Back TreVeyon Henderson (rushed for 277 yards in one game)?

The current spread is at 17.5 points for the Buckeyes, which is a bit too steep given the talent the Irish have. I also think the Irish will shock some people defensively by getting pressure on Stroud and getting stops. However, it’s a tough hill to climb for the offense. If this game were played a month later, I would say the Irish could hang with the Buckeyes. But offensively, the Irish have too many questions and Ohio State has all the right answers. Sadly, (I’m a Notre Dame fan) Ohio State is the pick.

PREDICITON: NOTRE DAME 28 OHIO STATE 41

(11) Oregon Ducks vs (3) Georgia Bulldogs

3:30 PM EST on ESPN/ABC 

The Georgia Bulldogs FINALLY got over the hump and beat Nick Saban and Alabama en route to winning their first National Title since 1980. Oregon last year pulled off a major upset going into Columbus and knocking off Ohio State (a game that kept the Buckeyes from the College Football Playoff). No doubt they are looking to do the same to the Bulldogs in Atlanta. 

Enter new Oregon Head Coach Dan Lanning. Last year he orchestrated the Bulldog defense that was key in winning the championship. He also has a bevy of talent at his disposal with stud Linebackers Justin Flowe and Noah Seawell. One would be foolish to think that Lanning doesn’t know how to make Georgia Quarterback Stetson Bennett uncomfortable and other secrets behind the Bulldog offense. They would be even more foolish to think he won’t use them to his team’s advantage.

As was mentioned the key to the Bulldog’s run last season was a great defense. That defense only returns three starters but features a very talented group of young players that should fit in nicely. Many are expecting the offense to run wild here, but I disagree. I think defense rules the day. And I like Bennett more than Oregon’s Bo Nix to make the key plays when he needs to. Bulldogs are the pick.

PREDICITON: OREGON 13 GEORGIA 24

(23) Cincinnati Bearcats vs (19) Arkansas Razorbacks

3:30 PM EST on ESPN/ABC 

Two of last year’s best stories square off in week one. The Bearcats crashed the College Football Playoff Party after their 13-0 regular season (that included beating Notre Dame in South Bend). Arkansas started a shocking 4-0, this included wins against Texas and Texas A&M. Then the Razorbacks lost three straight. However, they rallied winning five of their last four games (only loss to Alabama, by seven)including the Outback Bowl. 

With returning players wise these teams are on the opposite end of the spectrum Cincinnatti lost much of their talent from last year’s squad. Including Quarterback Desmond Ritter and Defender Sauce Gardner, among others. Arkansas reruns much of their team including scintillating Quarterback KJ Jefferson. However, the Bearcats under Head Coach Luke Fickell have shown that they will be prepared and play to their strengths. 

I feel this will be the best game of the weekend. I think both teams will trade some thunderous shots, leading to a very “Nip and Tuck” game. However, when looking for an edge in close matchups, go with who you know. I know Arkansas has an explosive offense and they are ready to prove last year was no fluke.

PREDICTION: CINCINNATI 30 ARKANSAS 35

UPSET SPECIAL

Florida State Seminoles vs Louisiana State Tigers

SEPT. 4TH 6:30 PM EST on ABC 

Before anyone assumes this is sour grapes about Brian Kelly leaving Notre Dame for LSU, hear me out. To start last season the Seminoles took Notre Dame to overtime where they eventually lost. And, while they started the season 0-4, they rebounded to win five of their next seven and were within a field goal of a bowl game berth against rival Florida. 

LSU Returns only six starters overall and who will start at Quarterback is a mystery. Whoever starts under center will have playmaking Wide Receiver Kayshon Boute to target, the rest is as good of a guess as the quarterback. Despite a formidable receiving corps, the Tigers have major questions on the offensive line and could be missing Running Back John Emery Jr to suspension. 

The Seminoles are trending up. After some early hiccups, Mike Norvell appears to have Florida State trending upward. In his third season, he has stability on both sides of the ball, led by third-year Quarterback Jordan Travis. Add in a vast upgraded group of receivers and a three-headed monster at Running Back, and the Tigers’ defense under new coordinator Matt House will be tested. 

Everything here points to an upset. I’m taking the Seminoles

PREDICITON: FLORIDA STATE 35 LSU 27

LOCAL FLAVOR 

South Dakota State Jackrabbits vs Iowa Hawkeyes

11:05 AM EST on FS1

This life only has two guarantees, death and taxes. A third could be added as well, Kirk Ferentz is Iowa’s Head Football Coach. Ferentz begins his 24th season against FCS foe South Dakota state. The Jackrabbits did make it to the FCS semifinals and are ranked second in the FCS poll. 

The Hawkeyes started last 6-0 (and ranked second in the polls) behind a stifling defense. But, an inept offense led to the Hawkeyes being embarrassed by Purdue and Wisconsin. They rebounded to win four hard-fought games in a row before getting housed by Michigan in the B10 Championship Game and losing to Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl. 

The stingy defense returns most of their starters. Any questions regarding the offense should not be an issue in this game. I look for the game to be close for the first half and for Iowa’s defense to play lights out in the second half, putting the Jackrabbits away.

PREDICTION: IOWA 31 SDSU 13

That does it for this week’s games. If there are any games you would like to see picked feel free to comment or send an email. Thanks for reading and let’s enjoy the season 

Season Record: 0-1

Shake the thunder from the sky

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Like any typical human being I enjoy being right. It gives me a vicarious thrill. My chest puffs out, my ego get pretty large (bigger than usual, in some people’s eyes) and I love to tell people that I’m right. So if my loyal readers will indulge me for a moment…..

I TOLD YOU SO.

A little over two years ago I wrote a blog that said in four years Notre Dame Football would be playing for bigger things than a win against a major rival. I said they would be worrying about playing for National Championships. In that same blog I said the fan base needed to believe in head coach Brian Kelly and the players he had. Now on December 2, 2012 the faith myself and every other fan of the Fighting Irish had in this program was rewarded when it was announced that Notre Dame would play national power Alabama on January 7, 2013 for the National Championship. They achieved this by going undefeated (12-0) throughout the regular season and being ranked Number One in the country the last three weeks.

Now, that is not to say my faith was not tested. A week after I wrote that blog Notre Dame lost to Michigan State in overtime by the way of a fake field goal. Then there was the embarrassing back to back losses to Navy and Tulsa. Despite those set backs I stayed true to what I said and the Fighting Irish faithful stayed faithful to their team, even though the following season was a disappointment. And then you had the players that stayed the course that Kelly put this team on and finally everyone is seeing the benefits of that faith.

This season has been one of the most enjoyable football seasons I have had the pleasure of watching and that includes both college and professional football. All year the Fighting Irish bucked the doubters and proved them wrong, all the while proving their believers right. And, even making non-believers the believers they dreaded becoming.

When the Irish started the season everyone heard how they would not defeat Michigan and Michigan State. They defeated them both with dominating defensive performances. Next the naysayers said a home game against Stanford would be the first blemish on their record. Notre Dame clinched the victory in overtime with a goal line stand where they stuffed stalwart running back Stephon Taylor on three consecutive running plays from the one yard line.

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Brian Kelly and Man’ti Teo have spearheaded Notre Dame’s resurgence to relevance in college football.

Then it was said they would go on the road against Oklahoma and get soundly defeated. The Irish were the ones that soundly defeated the Sooners shutting down an offense that at that time was averaging 55 points a game. Then the final road block was a road game against another rival USC. This game was ripe for an upset. USC wanted to play spoiler and was starting a quarterback who had only played a handful of plays. But Notre Dame proved that the disappointments and letdowns from seasons past were gone and once again using a phenomenal defensive effort beat USC.

This season has been a magical and memorable one and needless to say the memories could keep mounting. Not including the aforementioned championship game, phenomenal Notre Dame Linebacker Man’ti Teo is a lock for finalist for the Heisman Trophy and many of the experts have him pegged to win it. That would make him the first defensive player to win the award. But this achievement is not about individuals, not by a long shot.

What the Fighting Irish have done is loaded with noteworthy individual performances. From the performance of redshirt Freshman Quarterback Everett Gohlson, the performance of utility offensive player Theo Riddick, dominating defense led by Teo, the phenomenal coaching job done by Kelly and his staff and the perseverance of seniors Tyler Eifert, Robbie Toma, Mike Golic Jr among many others that stuck with this program even in its gloomiest days. This group won every game the right way; as a team and a band of brothers fighting for one common goal and dream. A dream that is so close to being achieved.

No matter if this team wins or loses the National Championship game, they have achieved so much already. They have restored the gleam of their once tarnished golden helmets, they have fought off everyone who said this football program was irrelevant and made the realize that this is not the case. Those achievements alone are worth more than any trophy.

Now everyone is saying that the mighty Alabama is too much for Notre Dame. That this was a nice little run by the Irish but is bound to end by a prime time whooping. Well, to that I say just keep saying this team can’t or wont. Because all it has been is fuel to the flame that has reignited the pride, passion and tradition in Notre Dame football. But, then again I love being right and so does this team. I mean it is only human nature right?