2018 Football Preview – Independent – Fighting Irish
Looking for 2018 Notre Dame Fighting Irish predictions? The Fighting Irish redeemed themselves last season and look to continue in that vein in 2018. Coach Kelly’s men have the talent – especially along the offensive line and the defense – to be a factor in the National Championship picture. The Irish are gunning for back-to-back ten win seasons for the first time since 1992-93.
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2018-19 College Football Preview – Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Head Coach: Brian Kelly
2017 Record: 10-3
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Odds to win the 2018 FBS Championship: +3300
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The time is now for this Fighting Irish team to win. Can Brian Kelly and new defensive co-ordinator Clark Lea deliver?
2018 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Predictions: Team Strengths
Interior Line Beefcakes: Notre Dame features arguably the top center in the nation in senior Sam Mustipher. He anchors an offensive line that is strong, even with the departure of stars Quenten Nelson and Mike McGlinchey.
Joining Mustipher in 2018 is senior guard Alex Bars and junior guard Tommy Kraemer. The tackles, Robert Hainsey and Liam Eichenberg, are talented but inexperienced.
Blocking is further buttressed by tight ends Alize Mack, Cole Kmet and Brock Wright, though Mack should thrive primarily in the passing attack.
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All of this is welcome news for the three-headed monster at RB of Tony Jones Jr., Dexter Williams and former QB recruit Avery Davis. Jones and Williams saw reps last year, but Davis probably has the most intriguing gifts of the trio. Some big interior holes will help whomever totes the rock for the Irish this season.
Stacked ‘D’: Notre Dame has a bushel of All-American candidates on that side of the ball, which should make the job easier for D co-ordinator Lea, who himself will be getting acclimatized after previous co-ordinator Mike Elko flew the coop to Texas A&M to join Jimbo Fisher.
The standouts are definitely a pair of LBs in Te’von Coney and Drue Tranquill, as well as DT Jerry Tillery and CB Julian Love.
The only question mark is at safety, where Notre Dame lacks football intelligence. That void might have been filled by Navy transfer Alohi Gilman, who had to sit out last season but is already loved by the coaching staff.
The hope is that Gilman will bring junior FS Jalen Elliott along. If safety is upgraded this year, Notre Dame – with not just its returning nine starters but talent waiting in the wings – could be ready to fly.
2018 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Good Enough Under Center?: Apparently, Brandon Wimbush lit the world on fire in spring ball. He needs to, because the word around the campfire is: He needs to deliver more in the clutch.
Some whispered of a competition between him and underclassman Ian Park, but this is Wimbush’s job to lose. The only issue is – might he lose it? It’s not out of the realm of possibility for a senior that sometimes has trouble with opposing pass rushes and wilting when the spotlight is brightest.
The job will be assisted by a talented group of wideouts, including Chase Claypool, Miles Boykin and Michael Young.
Still, quarterback at Notre Dame has always been an iconic position, and Wimbush must continue to prove he has the goods.
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On special teams, the Irish are fine at kicker and punter but need some explosiveness in the return game; perhaps the aforementioned multi-positional talent Davis is an option to get a sniff.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Prediction: 9-3
Notre Dame, thanks to forever remaining an Independent despite being squarely in Big Ten territory (some sour pusses jokingly refer to NBC as the ‘Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation’) has its usual mix of tough matchups and cupcakes on the schedule.
Michigan, Virginia Tech, Florida State and USC look tough, while Ball State, Syracuse and Vanderbilt look like laughers.
It all should shake out to the Irish getting close – if not achieving – another double-digit win campaign under Coach Kelly.
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Getting the most out of this roster will be critical. If Wimbush can play well all season, it looks like celebration is imminent in South Bend.
If Wimbush struggles, it won’t be long before Kelly and offensive co-ordinator Chip Long give Park a look.
The senior improving in his second year as a starter is central to Irish success in 2018.
2018 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football Schedule
- 9/1/18 7:30 PM ET MICH
- 9/8/18 3:30 PM ET BALL
- 9/15/18 2:30 PM ET VAN
- 9/22/18 TBD @WAKE
- 9/29/18 7:30 PM ET STAN
- 10/6/18 TBD @VT
- 10/13/18 2:30 PM ET PITT
- 10/27/18 8:00 PM ET NAVY
- 11/3/18 TBD @NW
- 11/10/18 7:30 PM ET FSU
- 11/17/18 2:30 PM ET SYR
- 11/24/18 TBD @USC
What do you think about our 2018 Notre Dame Fighting Irish predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2018!
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