HERE COME THE IRISH
The Louisville Cardinals make their second trip to Notre Dame Stadium looking to repeat what they did in November of 2014 with a 31-28 win over the Irish whose defense was coordinated by one Brian Van Gorder. ‘Nuf said.
The second meeting was the 2019 season opener won by the Irish 35-17. That night the Irish allowed RB Javan Hawkins to rush for 122 yards. And, HE BACK!!
The Cardinals have an authentic group of offensive skill position players. QB Malik Cunningham can certainly fling the forward pass. Catching the orb (or so the Cardinals hope) will be TuTu Atwell, all 5’9” and 165 lbs., but as speedy as a thoroughbred, Dez Fitzpatrick at 6’2” and 210 lbs., and Justin Marshall at 6’3” and 213 lbs. Malik is likely to say “I’ll have another target in my Tight Ends Marshon Ford and Ean Pfeifer.
The Cardinals enter the game with a record of 1-3. The 11 turnovers in their 4 games help justify the won-loss record. With only three defensive turnovers, the Cardinals defense is tied with the Irish who have only three takeaways. But the Irish lads are always dreaming about a takeaway and their silver charm safety Kyle Hamilton will get one as will the charismatic linebacker Bo Bauer!
The Louisville defense will be severely tested by the Irish, in particular the Irish ground game led by Kyren Williams and Chris Tyree. It is a genuine risk for the Louisville defenders who have not been very effective at stopping the run this season. Look for the Irish O-line tackles to dominate the Louisville defensive ends, Ya Ya Diaby and Tabarius Peterson, playing at just 255 and 260 lbs each. Yah! Yah! You heard it first right here. By the way, If Ya Ya is yanked, among the possible replacements is Yirayah LaNier. Why you ask? Or is it Y you ask?
One of the Louisville safeties will be Russ Yeast. Yeast was an Irish target in high school. Unfortunately, the Cardinals defense will not rise to the occasion with Yeast. (Sorry, I apologize!)
The Cardinals play a 3-4 defense. This will be the first 3-4 the Irish will face this year. One idea about the 3-4 is that the 4th linebacker, presumably with significantly more athleticism than a bulky lineman, will be a super saver for the defense.
The Irish are 16.5-point favorites. If you are ready to spend a buck or two, I would say give the points and take the Irish. The over/under is 62.5. Think about how many you think the Irish will allow. I cannot imagine 25, so if the Cardinals reach 24 the Irish will need 29 points to beat the over. Take the over!
In prior years I have cautioned about betting the house on an undefeated Irish season. This game and this game’s over/under is a much less risky bet so perhaps you can bet just the country house.
Louisville Head Coach is reportedly one of the potential coaches to replace Brain Kelly after his retires from the Irish at the end of his current contract extension. If that is true, he must come to the realization that his D-coordinator not be a Brian VanGorder disciple.
So when the clock reaches 00:00 at the end of the 4th quarter, there will be a real quiet time for the Louisville fans (none of whom will be in the Stadium except maybe Ya Ya’s Mom and Dad) as the Irish Blue and Gold will be the winning colors after a decidedly one sided win.
As the sun rises the day after the game, the Sunday silence of the Notre Dame campus will be interrupted by the bells at the Basilica calling students and parishioners to Mass. But I wonder, will there be social distancing at the Mass? One can only wonder, but Let Us Pray!!
If football betting was like horse race betting, you would probably have a sure winner in an Exacta Box, after all the two teams will finish 1 and 2 will they not? But this is not horse racing, or is it? Louisville, Kentucky is home of the Kentucky Derby. Yes, we know that don’t we? If you read this missive with care and precision you would have found the names of some 17 Derby Winners that would cover the 16.5-point spread.
At least one of you, I suspect, would have caught those names. That one of you would be a Smarty Jones (Derby Winner #18)! But for those of you who may not be a Smarty Jones, read on as the missive is repeated with the other 17 highlighted.
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The Louisville Cardinal make their second trip to Notre Dame Stadium looking to repeat what they did in November of 2014 with a 31-28 win over the Irish whose defense was coordinated by one Brian Van Gorder. ‘Nuf said.
The second meeting was the 2019 season opener won by the Irish 35-17. That night the Irish allowed RB Javan Hawkins to rush for 122 yards. And, HE BACK!!
The Cardinals have an Authentic group of offensive skill position players. QB Malik Cunningham can certainly fling the Forward Pass. Catching the Orb (or so the Cardinals hope) will be TuTu Atwell, all 5’9” and 165 lbs., but as speedy as a thoroughbred, Dez Fitzpatrick at 6’2” and 210 lbs., and Justin Marshall at 6’3” and 213 lbs. Malik is likely to say “I’ll Have Another target in my Tight Ends Marshon Ford and Ean Pfeifer.
The Cardinals enter the game with a record of 1-3. The 11 turnovers in their 4 games help Justify the won-loss record. With only three defensive turnovers, the Cardinals defense is tied with the Irish who have only three takeaways. But the Irish lads are Always Dreaming about a takeaway and their Silver Charm safety Kyle Hamilton will get one as will the Charismatic linebacker Bo Bauer!
The Louisville defense will be severely tested by the Irish, in particular the Irish ground game led by Kyren Williams and Chris Tyree. It is a Genuine Risk for the Louisville defenders who have not been very effective at stopping the run this season. Look for the Irish O-line tackles to dominate the Louisville defensive ends, Ya Ya Diaby and Tabarius Peterson, playing at just 255 and 260 lbs each. Yah! Yah! You heard it first right here. By the way, If Ya Ya is yanked, among the possible replacements is Yirayah LaNier. Why you ask? Or is it Y you ask?
One of the Louisville safeties will be Russ Yeast. Yeast was an Irish target in high school. Unfortunately, the Cardinals defense will not rise to the occasion with Yeast. (Sorry, I apologize!)
The Cardinals play a 3-4 defense. This will be the first 3-4 the Irish will face this year. One idea about the 3-4 is that the 4th linebacker, presumably with significantly more athleticism than a bulky lineman, will be a Super Saver for the defense.
The Irish are 16.5-point favorites. If you are ready to Spend a Buck or two, I would say give the points and take the Irish. The over/under is 62.5. Think about how many you think the Irish will allow. I cannot imagine 25, so if the Cardinals reach 24 the Irish will need 29 points to beat the over. Take the over!
In prior years I have cautioned about betting the house on an undefeated Irish season. This game and this game’s over/under is a much less risky bet so perhaps you can bet just the Country House.
Louisville Head Coach is reportedly one of the potential coaches to replace Brain Kelly after his retires from the Irish at the end of his current contract extension. If that is true, he must come to the realization that his D-coordinator not be a Brian VanGorder disciple.
So when the clock reaches 00:00 at the end of the 4th quarter, there will be a real Quiet Time for the Louisville fans (none of whom will be in the Stadium except maybe Ya Ya’s Mom and Dad) as the Irish Blue and Gold will be the Winning Colors after a Decidedly one sided win.
As the sun rises the day after the game, the Sunday Silence of the Notre Dame campus will be interrupted by the bells at the Basilica calling students and parishioners to Mass. But I wonder, will there be social distancing at the Mass? One can only wonder, but Let Us Pray!!
If football betting was like horse race betting, you would probably have a sure winner in an Exacta Box, after all the two teams will finish 1 and 2 will they not? But this is not horse racing, or is it? Louisville, Kentucky is home of the Kentucky Derby. Yes, we know that don’t we? If you read this missive with care and precision you would have found the names of some 17 Derby Winners that would cover the 16.5-point spread.
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If there was ever any doubt, that doubt has been removed. I have TOO MUCH TIME on my hands. But, just wait for my comment the week after the Irish square off with the Clemson Tigers about Boston College QB Phil Jurkovic, a player some Irish fans still Pyne for.
Final score :
IRISH – 45
Louisville – 20
But as always, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
GO IRISH!!
A FULL HOUSE
NOT A FULL HOUSE
I am looking forward to the former rather than the latter and hope it will be in the fall of 2021. Home opener is scheduled for 9/11! Opponent will be the Toledo Rockets. Just wondering; will absence make the fans grow fonder and trigger a FULL HOUSE, or will it seem as though Social Distancing remains in vogue?