Notre Dame Fighting Irish - NCAA Football Odds, Lines & Betting

Notre Dame was good enough to beat every decent team they faced, but not good enough to beat any of the really good ones. The Irish finished 10-3 and endured a 41-14 beating at the hands of LSU in the Sugar Bowl.  Their three losses, however, came to three ranked opponents – Michigan, USC, LSU – that proceeded to pick Notre Dame apart.  Coach Charlie Weis will have his work cut out for him, as only eight starters return from last season’s team.  Of course, Weis’s first task will be to replace QB Brady Quinn, who attempted all but four of Notre Dame’s passes in 2006.  Freshman Jimmy Clausen appears to have the inside track on Quinn’s job. 

The top running back (Darius Walker) and two leading receivers (Jeff Samardzija and Rhema McKnight) are also gone, as well as three starters on the offensive line.  In short, it could be a dry season for points in South Bend in 2007.  Things are a bit better defensively, with five players returning.  Safety Tom Zbikowski can defend the run, but he needs to improve on recognizing the big play before it happens, as Notre Dame struggled against teams that could stretch the field.  Victor Abiamiri’s 10.5 sacks will be missed up front, but Maurice Crum Jr. (100 tackles, four sacks) can make a difference from his inside-linebacker position.  Ambrose Wooden (21 tackles) and Terrail Lambert (three interceptions) will have to elevate their one-on-one skills at the corner, so Zbikowski is not being constantly dragged out of position. 

The Irish have one of the nation’s toughest schedules in 2007, going to Michigan, Penn State and Purdue in September.  That will be followed by a trip to UCLA, before hosting Boston College and USC.  This season will be a true test of Weis’s coaching skills, because the luck of the Irish won’t solve problems here.

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