VS.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will be heading to Ann Arbor, Michigan with a 1-0 record after destroying Nevada last week. Michigan Wolverines won their opening season game against the Broncos of Western Michigan by the score of 35-22. Both of these teams are two of the most storied programs in the college football but recently have hit hard times.

3:30 PM ET, September 12, 2009
Michigan Stadium , ANN ARBOR, MI
ABC

Notre Dame Fighting Irish are sitting injured fullback James Aldridge against Michigan and will start Robert Hughes, this will affect the team in many ways since Aldridge did a great job on the offseason moving from halfback to fullback. Coach Charlie Weis announced that Aldridge will miss No. 18 Notre Dame’s Saturday showdown with Michigan because of a sprained right shoulder. Junior Robert Hughes, a 5-11, 234-pound Chicago Hubbard High product, will slide over and take on the fullback duties this week — and perhaps beyond. Aldridge is questionable at this point for the Sept. 19 matchup with Michigan State.
Let’s remember Aldridge was the leading rusher for the ND on 2007 and he is a key player on the coach’s plans for this year. What we saw on week 1 was that the defense is going to be aggressiveall year long; The defense delivered the Irish’s first shutout since 2002 and did so against a high-scoring, unorthodox offense. Of course, Notre Dame had all offseason to prepare for Nevada’s pistol formations, so it should have been ready. What stuck out was how many times defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta brought pressure, and how many times linebackers like Brian Smith came running free to the quarterback. “As you can see, coach Tenuata is one of the best, if not the best, defensive coordinators,” Smith said after his two-sack performance. “I think he’s a genius.” QB Jimmy Clausen has finally matured to the point of carrying the team on his shoulders and not crumble, he is good enough to take his team all the way so it ahould be no concerns about the QB position this year. Also Charlie Weis is comfortable in his role as head coach, he has what it takes to make Notre Dame the greatest football program that it was years ago.

Michigan Wolverines are back and they have recruited some great players on the offseason. Coach Rodriguez had a rude awakening to this rivalry as the Irish as the Irish won last year 35-17, in South Bend. Michigan quickly found themselves down 21-0 and were unable to recover. This year however, the Wolverines are hoping a change of scenery means a change of outcome. Michigan defense was suppose to be their best quality but they didn’t get the job done the right way, they allowed many points so they should shape that part up before it’s too late. Facing Western Michigan is not the same as facing the great Notre Dame, sure they are at home but the defense being the key ingredient they should work harder to keep the Fighting Irish within reach. Offense is a little shaky as well, they have tried everything and it seems it worked out last week but as I said before they were not facing the irish so i firmly belive they are just not ready for this game.

GAME ODDS

NOTRE DAME -3
MICHIGAN

MY PREDICTION WILL BE EASY, NOTRE DAME -3 SHOULD BE THE EASY WINNER SINCE THEY HAVE A BETTER ROSTER, BETTER COACHING STAFF AND ALTHOUGH THEY ARE ON THE ROAD THEY ARE NOT TAHT FAR FROM HOME, IT SHOULDN’T BE A PROBLEM FOR COACH WEIS TO PUT THIS ONE AWAY IN THE FIRST HALF.

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