after the first six games? Four out of the six are on the road

I say 4-2. Unless Charlie can pull something out of his sleeve, then 5-1, but with difficulty.

I think 3-3 would be a great start if they didn't get blown out. I would like to think they could be 5-1 but we have to remember that of the first 6 games 2 of them are against teams that beat ND by more than 3 TD's. Pitt should be a win, ND did beat Michigan last year so who knows, MSU is the first home game of the Weis era so one way or another ND wins the game, Washington is lock, Purdue is on the road at night, and USC is USC. I just hate thinking ND might not beat teams like Purdue or Pitt but I have to admit the last 8 years have made me question every game. My heart says 5-1 but last years results say 2-4. I'll go with my heart and the fact that ND has real coaches and say 4-2 will be their record after 6 games. They will beat Pitt, MSU, and Washington and find a way to knock of one of the other three.

Yes they can open up better than 4-2. Here's the thing though. Washington is the only "sure" win to me. I feel good about Pitt, Michigan, and Michigan State. But all 3 could easily be losses. I think Purdue and USC will be tough to beat. I ave ND going 4-2 throughout their first 6 games but 3-3 would not be that bad.

I have a real good feeling about the Pitt game. I think Wannestedt is too conservative and will under-utilize Tyler Palko. I think we will win that one. You guys are going to hate me for this but i think that Michigan will light up our secondary for a win (But I do think it will be ten or less points). Michigan State will be blown away and I will make the bold prediction of at least a two touchdown win in that one. In the Washington game, I feel the Huskies hang around for the first quarter, but then get blown away (Similar to how Ty's Irish handled USC). The Irish will beat an overrated Purdue team in West Lafayette and the Irish lose a thriller to USC to put them at 4-2. A realistic prediction. I have a real good hunch about the SC game, but I'm going to chicken out and pick SC anyway.

Hey Irish 19,

Youre dead on with the Pitt comments. Pitt needed alot of luck, a poor ND coaching staff, and the benefit of some horrible calls to win in Southbend last year. From what I know on Pitt they return most of their key guys along with ND except this year ND has a coaching staff that runs circles around Pitt. I think it's very interesting that Weis was most likely the man to replace Wannestadt in Miami until ND came calling. To me this game has all the feeling of 3 years ago when ND opened with Maryland and all everybody could talk about was how bad ND was. I just think ND plays with a controlled passion that we haven't seen in a long time and win the game big. I really think they pound Pitt.

I always dread this type of topic. I am probably the most hopelessly optimistic Irish fan on the planet, but hey, that's why we're fans isn't it? I do however feel with great certainty that the Irish will be better than 3-3 over the first 6 games, and I don't see 5-1 as an impossibility either. I truly feel that there was enough talent that simply wasn't utilized last year for factors other than performance. Enter a new coach, new philosophy, another year of experience, and some fresh faces, and I think we will surprise some folks. One thing's for sure, when we head into West Lafayette I WILL be there and you WILL hear me over the rest of the crowd. Go IRISH!

Well the way I see it. We should be favored in at least 6 games this year. One loss here probably means a December bowl at best. I don't think Notre Dame can be labled an elite program once again until the day a victory at home is not classified as a steal

 

I just hope we don't loose to Pitt or Purdue. Washington now, Notre Dame is going to kill.

Ok, can't fight the optimism much longer. I still fully believe that ANYTHING is possible this season and NOTHING is out of reach. I'll let you draw from that what you will. One thing to keep in mind: Legends did not become legends without something legendary happening. If everything happened according to logic, there would be no great stories in sports, in fact there probably wouldn't be sports at all. Too predictable. Impossible is nothing, if there's one place where magic really exists, it's ND. GO IRISH!