Notre Dame vs. Alabama

[so-tex]

Looks like Alabama is #2 to Notre Dame in recruiting too...


2013 ESPN RecruitingNation Class Rankings

1 Notre Dame
2 Alabama
3 Florida
4 Ohio State
5 USC
6 Michigan
7 Texas A&M
8 LSU
9 Georgia
10 Texas

Recruiting rankings don't mean squat. Just ask Texas. As for the rankings, there are five SEC teams in the top 10.

[2nd_chance]

Recruiting rankings don't mean squat. Just ask Texas. As for the rankings, there are five SEC teams in the top 10.

They do mean something. College Football is all about recruiting. Even your own comment says they don't mean anything but proceeds to tell me that 5 of 10 are SEC, implying that it does mean something. To an elite program, the rank of your recruiting class means a lot. These are special athletes. The best in the country. And if their scores/grades hold up, you have them for at least 3 years.

[2nd_chance]

All the pressure is on Alabama ob Monday. Notre Dame is not expected to win. Same for the fans. As an Irish fan, I won't be discouraged one bit if ND gets beat. Because I know we are back and will be there again and again. If Bama loses, there will be despair in Tide nation (or whatever they call it).

[so-tex]

They do mean something. College Football is all about recruiting. Even your own comment says they don't mean anything but proceeds to tell me that 5 of 10 are SEC, implying that it does mean something. To an elite program, the rank of your recruiting class means a lot. These are special athletes. The best in the country. And if their scores/grades hold up, you have them for at least 3 years.

They don't mean anything. Just ask programs like USC and Texas. There are many intangibles in the recruiting process.

[2nd_chance]

They don't mean anything. Just ask programs like USC and Texas. There are many intangibles in the recruiting process.

Both teams have recent BCS Championships. Your point?

They don't mean anything by themselves but with good coaching and a good system they mean a lot.

Are you even a Bama fan or are you just jumping on their bandwagon?

[so-tex]

Both teams have recent BCS Championships. Your point?

They don't mean anything by themselves but with good coaching and a good system they mean a lot.

Are you even a Bama fan or are you just jumping on their bandwagon?

I am an Aggie fan. Both my dad and uncle graduated from there. My point is that teams like Texas are consistently ranked in the top 3 as far as recruiting rankings go, and no, they don't equate to National championships. How many National championships has Texas won in the last 20 years? As far as Notre Dame goes, things are looking up for the Irish. Great recruiting class, to go along with a great coaching staff, they should be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come. They just won't get it done this year.

[2nd_chance]

I am an Aggie fan. Both my dad and uncle graduated from there. My point is that teams like Texas are consistently ranked in the top 3 as far as recruiting rankings go, and no, they don't equate to National championships. How many National championships has Texas won in the last 20 years? As far as Notre Dame goes, things are looking up for the Irish. Great recruiting class, to go along with a great coaching staff, they should be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come. They just won't get it done this year.

Haha... you just want to be able to say that your team was the only one to beat Bama. I don't think I ever said that great recruiting classes equate to championships. But on the other hand, show me a recent BCS champion that didn't have highly ranked recruiting classes. Just show me one...

[so-tex]

Haha... you just want to be able to say that your team was the only one to beat Bama. I don't think I ever said that great recruiting classes equate to championships. But on the other hand, show me a recent BCS champion that didn't have highly ranked recruiting classes. Just show me one...

Show me the a list of BCS champions that had the #1 ranked recruiting class.

[2nd_chance]

Show me the a list of BCS champions that had the #1 ranked recruiting class.

You keep trying to frame the argument around points that I'm not trying to make. Nice forum tactic. To your point, Alabama's 2008 class was #1 and their 2009 class was #2. I'd say that had something to do with the championships. I'm sorry if that offends some of the Saban is God crowd.

My point, however, was that during ND's down years, analysts were always criticizing ND's inability to get the great recruiting classes with the top athletes because it was a) a cold-weather school, and b) academically strict in admissions. The fact that now they are winning with good coaching AND getting top athletes DOES make a difference.

[2nd_chance]

So-Tex and 2nd.

It's football. We live to talk smack about it.

But, it's just football.

It's especially smack when you don't even think your team is going to win lol.

[2nd_chance]

However, in the interest of talking trash, I must ask this question.

How many bowl games have been won by the SEC this year?

They are 5-3 so far, with a chance to go 5-4. If it wasn't for some lower rung teams winning, their record would be worse. Their second and third best teams got beat by the ACC and Big East. Any more questions?

[so-tex]

I must ask this question.

How many bowl games have been won by the SEC this year?

Both Texas A&M and Ole Miss crushed their opponents. Someone on here predicted an Oklahoma win and a tossup between Ole Miss and Pitt.

[2nd_chance]

Both Texas A&M and Ole Miss crushed their opponents. Someone on here predicted an Oklahoma win and a tossup between Ole Miss and Pitt.

Wishful thinking just because I don't like the SEC. But I acknowledged how good A&M was and who really cares about Ole Miss v. Pitt?

[so-tex]

Wishful thinking just because I don't like the SEC. But I acknowledged how good A&M was and who really cares about Ole Miss v. Pitt?

The Pitt game intrigued me, since they took Notre Dame to overtime.

[2nd_chance]

The Pitt game intrigued me, since they took Notre Dame to overtime.

Well then, let's have Notre Dame play Western Kentucky, Florida Atlantic and Western Carolina in order to gauge how they will do against Alabama

Pitt was a letdown game after Oklahoma, but they found a way to win.

[so-tex]

Well then, let's have Notre Dame play Western Kentucky, Florida Atlantic and Western Carolina in order to gauge how they will do against Alabama

Pitt was a letdown game after Oklahoma, but they found a way to win.

I agree. I also think Alabama had a letdown game vs. A&M after the LSU game.(glad my Aggies won). All in all, it is hard to win 12 games in college football no matter who you play.

[2nd_chance]

ND is a 10 pt underdog going into the game. They have no shot, right? There have been two other double-digit dogs in the history of the BCS. Ohio State in 2003 (+12 v. Miami) and Oklahoma in 2001 (+10 v. Fla. St.). Guess what? Both teams won...

[EB68]

Lol at all of the smack talk in here. I am not a fan of either team, nor do I have anything against either team. I would expect that Bama will win, but will not be surprised if they lose. I have come to realise that in college football any given team can beat any other given team on the right day with a few mistakes from one and some luck for the other. I just hope it is a good game and very close since it will be the last one for a while.

[2nd_chance]

Lol at all of the smack talk in here. I am not a fan of either team, nor do I have anything against either team. I would expect that Bama will win, but will not be surprised if they lose. I have come to realise that in college football any given team can beat any other given team on the right day with a few mistakes from one and some luck for the other. I just hope it is a good game and very close since it will be the last one for a while.

Same here. I hope it is a good game (although I wouldn't mind a ND blowout haha). As a ND fan for 25 years, it feels like we have already won by just getting back to this point. ND is definitely an underdog and it will be a major upset if they win.

[ntrllftr]

Same here. I hope it is a good game (although I wouldn't mind a ND blowout haha). As a ND fan for 25 years, it feels like we have already won by just getting back to this point. ND is definitely an underdog and it will be a major upset if they win.

I feel the same. I was born in Montgomery Ala. Still have family down there. I didn't make it into the school but always been a fan ever since I can remember.
Win or lose tomorrow night.... They made it to "The game"!!! Smack talk is fun as long as both parties are "sports" about it.
In the end it's just a game and for entertainment for me.

[2nd_chance]

Good to hear from an actual Bama fan in here Carl.

[2nd_chance]

Good article on the game.

http://m.espn.go.com/ncf/story?w=1ch...ageHeader=true

[2nd_chance]

Alright, Game Day! Let's get the official predictions out there. I am sticking with my initial prediction, as listed in post #1.

IRISH 24
TIDE 20

To be honest, though, I won't be surprised no matter how the game goes. Could be a blowout for Bama or even a blowout for the Irish. The main reason it wouldn't surprise me is the time off since last game. Waiting 40+ days to play a game is ridiculous and should be fixed.

Reps to all who pick the winner.

[EB68]

Tide 27
Irish 23
That is my prediction.

[so-tex]

Tide 24 ND 13

[BankWalker]

28-14 Alabama.

[ntrllftr]

My picks

ND 21
BAMA 35

[Corbi]

Wisconsin Badgers 9...oh wait never mind.


Alabama 38
ND 31

[JRT6]

Go Irish!

[llahhsoj]

I hoping Notre Dame takes the biggest beatdown in BCS game history in this one. Last time they faced an SEC team, LSU won something like 42-14. I'm hoping the game is more like 62-3.

My prediction is:

27-10 BAMA