North Carolina State

[IrishInOntario]

The game I've been most nervous about the entire season. I thought there would be a good chance ND would come out and play well vs USC, especially with a bye week and extra time to prepare. That said, now it's NC State coming off their bye week and man are they a complete team. Just very solid all around. The best defensive line ND will face all season, anchored by thebbest DE in the nation, IMO, Bradley Chubb. Offensively, that probably have the most complete quarterback we'll face in Ryan Finley and Samuels is one heck of an all around player.

I'm really hoping ND can match the energy and effort NC State is going to bring to South Bend and not have the emotional let down I'm fearing, post USC.

I think the team is much physically tougher this year. This is the week we find out how mentally tough they've become. I also fully expect this to be the first week an opponent goes over 20 points vs ND. The offense will need to show up.

 

[hvillebill]

It will come down to their D-line against our running game. Whoever wins that battle wins the game.

The Wolfpack's D-line is every bit as good as Georgia's. The one difference is that Georgia's LBs are better, but the D-line is stout.

 

[faviles15]

This is a tough matchup for us and you know NC State will be coming in well prepared as well as hyped for the visit. I hope we can create another exciting atmosphere with the fans to at least have some type of home field advantage.

 

[impossibilityofreason1]

I've been looking at NC State's schedule this morning. It's weak and they lost to South Carolina which isn't a good SEC team. Also they haven't dominated as we have nor are they as battle tested. They have a good d line but are they as talented top to bottom as Georgia and USC? Barring a huge let down we should win.

 

[hoopsstar12]

Why are they so good? Where do they ever finish in the top 25 in recruiting? Do they take Jucos?

 

[hvillebill]

Why are they so good? Where do they ever finish in the top 25 in recruiting? Do they take Jucos?

I live in NC and I've watched them three times this year. I already mentioned their D-line, so I won't go on about that again. Chubb is an absolute beast, and they move him around so he can go up against different O-linemen. Not just the best tackle or whomever. They're all going to have to be prepared to block him. The good thing is that our O-line is the best they will have faced to this point.

The play-calling on offense s outstanding. They have a lot of moving parts and it's basically assignment football. You cannot get caught up in the eye candy with motion and play-action, because if you do Finley will go over the top. Their RBs run hard and they run downhill.

You are correct about USC having more talent, but as we saw last night that talent (IMO) is wasted on poor play calling.

Doeren knows who they are and what they have to work with and has designed it well. With that said, I still feel ND wins but it won't be a blowout like last night.

 

[D_Master]

this is the game that we find out how good this team is. This week we had 2 weeks to prepare as well as fall break. now we will see if we have a let down or not

 

[NDCap]

ND starters on Offense played a little more then 3 Quarters. That was important. Stepherson is now on the field even more important and most important is this team is beginning to believe they are a great team. NC state is a veteran team but they have not face an ND team like this. Just protect the ball and ND will win.

 

[MccallenNYC ND]

Home field should help us. Notre Dame Stadium will be rocking. Great to see the fans believing in the team and getting loud during the game.

 

[gautrp]

The game I've been most nervous about the entire season. I thought there would be a good chance ND would come out and play well vs USC, especially with a bye week and extra time to prepare. That said, now it's NC State coming off their bye week and man are they a complete team. Just very solid all around. The best defensive line ND will face all season, anchored by thebbest DE in the nation, IMO, Bradley Chubb. Offensively, that probably have the most complete quarterback we'll face in Ryan Finley and Samuels is one heck of an all around player.

I'm really hoping ND can match the energy and effort NC State is going to bring to South Bend and not have the emotional let down I'm fearing, post USC.

I think the team is much physically tougher this year. This is the week we find out how mentally tough they've become. I also fully expect this to be the first week an opponent goes over 20 points vs ND. The offense will need to show up.

Forget about that excuse of having a letdown. That's bs. You either good enough to beat them or you're not. Lose another game at home and that will tell you everything you need to know.

 

[gautrp]

The game I've been most nervous about the entire season. I thought there would be a good chance ND would come out and play well vs USC, especially with a bye week and extra time to prepare. That said, now it's NC State coming off their bye week and man are they a complete team. Just very solid all around. The best defensive line ND will face all season, anchored by thebbest DE in the nation, IMO, Bradley Chubb. Offensively, that probably have the most complete quarterback we'll face in Ryan Finley and Samuels is one heck of an all around player.

I'm really hoping ND can match the energy and effort NC State is going to bring to South Bend and not have the emotional let down I'm fearing, post USC.

I think the team is much physically tougher this year. This is the week we find out how mentally tough they've become. I also fully expect this to be the first week an opponent goes over 20 points vs ND. The offense will need to show up.

Finley is no Darnold. He might have more help than Darnold.

 

[irishstuey81]

I'd say the Georgia is the best Dline we've faced all year. Chubb is the best player though.

ND should win this game by a TD+

Man Elko has done a great job

 

[88ND]

It will come down to their D-line against our running game. Whoever wins that battle wins the game.

The Wolfpack's D-line is every bit as good as Georgia's. The one difference is that Georgia's LBs are better, but the D-line is stout.

We have the X Factor. Wimbush.

He is a much different player than week 2. I don't mean more accurate because that will always be an issue but he's much more confident and a very lethal runner. So sure...allow the pocket to break down. He's gone.

I just hope he's not blind sided in the fourth on a game winning drive....but that won't be from chubb.

I think we'll be OK.

This is a different team than any other under BK.
They played like they expected to win that USC game...something not seen in south bend since 1994.

 

[TXND30]

NC State hasn’t played one team this year to the caliber of ND and not anyone as physical.

ND wins by 17+ not sold on NC State

Sep 2 @

South Carolina L 35 - 28
Sep 9 vs

Marshall W 37 - 20
Sep 16 vs

Furman W 49 - 16
Sep 23 @

Florida St. W 27 - 21
Sep 30 vs

Syracuse W 33 - 25
Oct 5 vs

Louisville W 39 - 25
Oct 14 @

Pittsburgh W 35 - 17

Ummmmmmmmm where are the UGA’s, MSU and USC?

 

[irishsportsfan]

Louisville has a better quarterback (athletically). And FSU still has 4 & 5 stars across their roster. Their D is the only D so far that really kept Bama in check.

I’m not writing off NC State because of their schedule...

 

[HDK]

I just hope our head coach does something to make up for that miserable game he coached last year against NCST.

 

[NDSMC78]

Forget about that excuse of having a letdown. That's bs. You either good enough to beat them or you're not. Lose another game at home and that will tell you everything you need to know.

Never played the game.

 

[NotreDame du Lac]

I get so sick of the no nothing's that talk about recruiting. There's such a fine line between recruits. It's meaningless when a team is successful. These aren't high school boys. Rankings are long forgotten to players like Chubb. We are in for a battle and ND better bring it harder than they did against the Trojans. There are an abundance of all pros out there that don't care much about how some turd ranked them when they were 17 and undeveloped.

 

[gautrp]

Never played the game.

More excuses.

 

[NDSMC78]

More excuses.

Just pointing out the obvious, i.e., how little you know about the game.

 

[tbonesays]

NCST's loss to SCe was a bit like ours to UGA. They had a chance on the last drive and tripped over themselves. It may be attributable to early season kinks

 

[gautrp]

Just pointing out the obvious, i.e., how little you know about the game.

Yea, the game Las Vegas and the refs control, along with the ncaa/espn.

 

[IRISHJD98]

Finley is no Darnold. He might have more help than Darnold.

Yeah, Finely's definitely not Darnold. He's completing almost 70% of his passes and thrown ZERO interceptions this year.

 

[Bodizephax]

The game I've been most nervous about the entire season. I thought there would be a good chance ND would come out and play well vs USC, especially with a bye week and extra time to prepare. That said, now it's NC State coming off their bye week and man are they a complete team. Just very solid all around. The best defensive line ND will face all season, anchored by thebbest DE in the nation, IMO, Bradley Chubb. Offensively, that probably have the most complete quarterback we'll face in Ryan Finley and Samuels is one heck of an all around player.

I'm really hoping ND can match the energy and effort NC State is going to bring to South Bend and not have the emotional let down I'm fearing, post USC.

I think the team is much physically tougher this year. This is the week we find out how mentally tough they've become. I also fully expect this to be the first week an opponent goes over 20 points vs ND. The offense will need to show up.

As usual you come up with good points. I would like to add my two cents.
I don't think that the Irish will have a letdown. This team has great players and leaders who know how important this game is. They also lost to NC State last year and will be looking for revenge. This is a home game for the Irish and Dexter Williams will be back healthy.
The Irish Oline is the best in the Nation and will want to prove it after faltering at Georgia.
The Oline and the power and speed of Josh Adams Dexter Williams Brandon Wimbush and Tony Jones will be too much for North Carolina State and the Irish will wear them out with 300+ yards rushing. Add Kevin Stepherson to the mix and the Irish offense is unstoppable. The Irish defense let Darnold pass like 21 out of 26 or something like that but only gave up 14 points.
USC was a more dangerous opponent than the Wolfpack. And the Irish beat them up like they did Boston College and North Carolina.

*** Bottom line is this Irish team has far too much talent and chemistry for anyone left on their schedule. Wimbush will not be stopped. I don't even think Georgia could stop him now.

*** I say Notre Dame wins 34 to 13 over NC State or something like that. Momentum and confidence is huge in college football and ND is flying high.

 

[88ND]

NC State hasn’t played one team this year to the caliber of ND and not anyone as physical.

ND wins by 17+ not sold on NC State

Sep 2 @

South Carolina L 35 - 28
Sep 9 vs

Marshall W 37 - 20
Sep 16 vs

Furman W 49 - 16
Sep 23 @

Florida St. W 27 - 21
Sep 30 vs

Syracuse W 33 - 25
Oct 5 vs

Louisville W 39 - 25
Oct 14 @

Pittsburgh W 35 - 17

Ummmmmmmmm where are the UGA’s, MSU and USC?

Ridiculous.
Marshall only loss...NC State
Florida State at home.. Nc state wins
Syracuse is playing tough. Damn tough. Brat Clemson. NC State wins by 8.
Louisville..chasing that god damn QB around all afternoon...they won by 14.
Pitt...pitt is rebuilding but the western PA boys always play tough football.

Now I ask ya....
Their resume really that bad?

I think not and a confident don't give a shit attitude like that will have our second loss.

NC State will be tougher than USC. Every break went out way against USC. It will not be the same against NC State. Don't expect gifts from the punt returner, shotgun snap, etc


NC State will be very tough.

 

[Bodizephax]

Ridiculous.
Marshall only loss...NC State
Florida State at home.. Nc state wins
Syracuse is playing tough. Damn tough. Brat Clemson. NC State wins by 8.
Louisville..chasing that god damn QB around all afternoon...they won by 14.
Pitt...pitt is rebuilding but the western PA boys always play tough football.

Now I ask ya....
Their resume really that bad?

I think not and a confident don't give a shit attitude like that will have our second loss.

NC State will be tougher than USC. Every break went out way against USC. It will not be the same against NC State. Don't expect gifts from the punt returner, shotgun snap, etc


NC State will be very tough.

I see you are still a doubting Thomas (nothing wrong with that) but the Irish are going to blow out NC State.
I agree with you NC State is tough but Notre Dame is a far tougher and more talented team IMO. You will see.

*** And what about Josh Adams 80 yard run ? Was that a break USC gave us ? Was the 379 yards to 76 rushing yard advantage Notre Dame had over USC a lucky break ? Were the 5 sacks we had against Darnold lucky breaks? Were the two TD strikes Wimbush threw to EQ and Stepherson lucky breaks?

 

[88ND]

I see you are still a doubting Thomas (nothing wrong with that) but the Irish are going to blow out NC State.
I agree with you NC State is tough but Notre Dame is a far tougher and more talented team IMO. You will see.

*** And what about Josh Adams 80 yard run ? Was that a break USC gave us ? Was the 379 yards to 76 rushing yard advantage Notre Dame had over USC a lucky break ? Were the 5 sacks we had against Darnold lucky breaks? Were the two TD strikes Wimbush threw to EQ and Stepherson lucky breaks?

I'm just a realist. USC game was great. The breaks in the game all went out way. You can't deny that.

We dominated them without the help of that.

Rushing stats were nice but you'll be the first to admit that was a depleted USC d line.

Doesn't take anything away from our performance...but...

USC also seems a little disorganized for whatever reason.

I think we will be ok against NC state but this will be a tougher game than USC. Write it down.

 

[Telx1]

Well, after a 49-14 ass kicking of USC, it’s not saying much to declare the NCST will be a tougher game. I think we all believe that to be true. Kelly has this team playing focused discipline football week in and week out, and I’ll be surprised if there is much of a let down, but I do think there will be some. ND should get higher when playing their annual top rivalry game with USC, and we would all be disappointed if that wasn’t the case; and in fact we have all bitched like hell when we came out and our enthusiasm didn’t match USC’s in some recent years. So yeah, there will be some let down from the level of enthusiasm at the USC game. At any rate, I have been in IIO’s camp with respect to the NCST game, and we better put the USC game in the rear view mirror starting today, and come out focused and ready for a very difficult game. I am really glad this is a home game!

 

[NDSMC78]

Yea, the game Las Vegas and the refs control, along with the ncaa/espn.

The ravings of a lunatic.

 

[chaseball]

As of right now, all of the evidence points to Notre Dame being the better/more accomplished team in 2017 .. and all of the statistical models that try to quantify team-quality confirm this. For instance, FPI (Football Power Index) has ND @ 75% chance to win the game.

I really like NDs odds heading into saturday .. can Notre Dame lose anyway? Certainly .. but i think people are still slow to come around to just how good this Notre Dame team is. As an example, would you be worried by NC State if you were Alabama, OSU, or Georgia ? Probably not. This is the best Notre Dame football team in god knows how long .. and it's going to take more than a low talent mediocre ACC team to threaten NDs playoff bid in 2017.

 

[floridairish]

Confidence cannot bleed into over confidence. This team has not done enough to be over confident and this group has not won a dog fight since Miami last year. Texas, Navy, NC State, Stanford, Duke, V Tech were all games ND should of won last year. That was a 9 win team all day. This season should be no surprise if you were paying attention.

ND lost the only dog fight this year. So I would be telling the kids I love this team, i "think" we can do special things but adjust your thinking and KNOW you are going to be in a 4th quarter fight from here on out. Winning those kind of games is a place ND has not recently been very often. Starts this week.

 

[chaseball]

You shouldn't be evaluating team's based on how many "dog fights" they are in. "Dog fights" turn into coin flip games, and teams that are in a lot of coin flip games end up losing those kinds of games half of the time. There's no special skill at winning close games.

Elite teams rarely are in dog fights because they are too busy blowing the other team out. ND is an elite team, NC State is not.

I realize as ND fans it's hard to understand just how good this Notre Dame team is .. we've become cynical and jaded over the years as fans of this football program. But all the evidence points to ND being one of the best teams in the country .. and barring some unforeseen injury, or a matchup nightmare that's being overlooked, the chances of NC St. winning are very low.

 

[TXND30]

Ridiculous.
Marshall only loss...NC State
Florida State at home.. Nc state wins
Syracuse is playing tough. Damn tough. Brat Clemson. NC State wins by 8.
Louisville..chasing that god damn QB around all afternoon...they won by 14.
Pitt...pitt is rebuilding but the western PA boys always play tough football.

Now I ask ya....
Their resume really that bad?

I think not and a confident don't give a shit attitude like that will have our second loss.

NC State will be tougher than USC. Every break went out way against USC. It will not be the same against NC State. Don't expect gifts from the punt returner, shotgun snap, etc


NC State will be very tough.

Marshall? Are you serious?
FSU no QB and 240 DE’s bs 320 Oline
Cuse? That has been the last two weeks
Louisville bad team
Pitt? Bad team with a USC QB

We aren’t predicting the Clemson game that’s should of could of would of talk....

NC State has not even come close to playing team as physical as ND ND wins by 17

 

[TXND30]

You shouldn't be evaluating team's based on how many "dog fights" they are in. "Dog fights" turn into coin flip games, and teams that are in a lot of coin flip games end up losing those kinds of games half of the time. There's no special skill at winning close games.

Elite teams rarely are in dog fights because they are too busy blowing the other team out. ND is an elite team, NC State is not.

I realize as ND fans it's hard to understand just how good this Notre Dame team is .. we've become cynical and jaded over the years as fans of this football program. But all the evidence points to ND being one of the best teams in the country .. and barring some unforeseen injury, or a matchup nightmare that's being overlooked, the chances of NC St. winning are very low.

Styles make fights and this will be a TKO

 

[South Bender]

I'm just a realist. USC game was great. The breaks in the game all went out way. You can't deny that.

We dominated them without the help of that.

Rushing stats were nice but you'll be the first to admit that was a depleted USC d line.

Doesn't take anything away from our performance...but...

USC also seems a little disorganized for whatever reason.

I think we will be ok against NC state but this will be a tougher game than USC. Write it down.

....their coach is a boob.

 

[IRISHJD98]

Well, after a 49-14 ass kicking of USC, it’s not saying much to declare the NCST will be a tougher game. I think we all believe that to be true. Kelly has this team playing focused discipline football week in and week out, and I’ll be surprised if there is much of a let down, but I do think there will be some. ND should get higher when playing their annual top rivalry game with USC, and we would all be disappointed if that wasn’t the case; and in fact we have all bitched like hell when we came out and our enthusiasm didn’t match USC’s in some recent years. So yeah, there will be some let down from the level of enthusiasm at the USC game. At any rate, I have been in IIO’s camp with respect to the NCST game, and we better put the USC game in the rear view mirror starting today, and come out focused and ready for a very difficult game. I am really glad this is a home game!

I think every post this week should begin with "Well, after a 49-14 ass kicking of USC".

 

[88ND]

Marshall? Are you serious?
FSU no QB and 240 DE’s bs 320 Oline
Cuse? That has been the last two weeks
Louisville bad team
Pitt? Bad team with a USC QB

We aren’t predicting the Clemson game that’s should of could of would of talk....

NC State has not even come close to playing team as physical as ND ND wins by 17

Lol...ok. 17 is twice as close as 35, right, which I clearly state we should be OK but will be a tougher game than SC.

Are you alright?

 

[alpha08]

I'm surprised nobody is discussing NC State's O Line. I realize ND's is probably the best in the nation. Very impressive. But NC State has given up ZERO sacks in ACC play (4 games). You can call the schedule weak all you want, but giving up zero sacks to FSU and Louisville is not an easy feat. Particularly at FSU. Not making predictions here but it is certainly worth a mention. Looking forward to enjoying a game at your hallowed stadium and campus. Go Pack.

 

[Kelso86]

The game I've been most nervous about the entire season. I thought there would be a good chance ND would come out and play well vs USC, especially with a bye week and extra time to prepare. That said, now it's NC State coming off their bye week and man are they a complete team. Just very solid all around. The best defensive line ND will face all season, anchored by thebbest DE in the nation, IMO, Bradley Chubb. Offensively, that probably have the most complete quarterback we'll face in Ryan Finley and Samuels is one heck of an all around player.

I'm really hoping ND can match the energy and effort NC State is going to bring to South Bend and not have the emotional let down I'm fearing, post USC.

I think the team is much physically tougher this year. This is the week we find out how mentally tough they've become. I also fully expect this to be the first week an opponent goes over 20 points vs ND. The offense will need to show up.

"I'm really hoping ND can match the energy and effort NC State is going to bring to South Bend and not have the emotional let down I'm fearing, post USC."

That is what I am fearing as well -- similar to 1993 after Florida State.

 

[Syd4ND]

Louisville has a better quarterback (athletically). And FSU still has 4 & 5 stars across their roster. Their D is the only D so far that really kept Bama in check.

I’m not writing off NC State because of their schedule...

FSU is 2-4 and Jimbo is yellng at fans. NCST played that FSU team not the one that played BAMA.