WIN - The Irish are finally taking a page from the books of the major conferences and starting the season with a winnable game. I think the Irish struggle early, but hit their stride in the second half to defeat the Aztecs handily.

LOSS - I expect it to be closer than most people think, but I believe the hated Wolverines still have too much talent for Notre Dame to overcome.

LOSS - Any Notre Dame fan will tell you that the rivalry between the Irish and Spartans is getting bigger each year, especially because it's spilling onto the field between the players. I expect another wild one between these two teams, with MSU pulling it out in overtime. This will be a character-building game for the young Irish team.

WIN - The Boilermakers are quietly becoming a better team, but I think after enduring a tough loss the week before, Notre Dame bounces back to even their record.

Stanford at Notre Dame (Oct 4, 2008) WIN - No one can knock the job Stanford's Jim Harbaugh has done rebuilding the Cardinal so far, but he started in such a hole, I just can't see them taking out the Irish.

WIN - I'm glad Notre Dame is playing North Carolina this year, not next - Butch Davis is building a heck of a program in Chapel Hill. I think Notre Dame wins, but not by much.

WIN - With the Irish coming off a bye and playing the coach that gutted their depth and dreams, I think Notre Dame lays a beating on the Huskies in their building.

LOSS - Even though I believe Notre Dame is a better team than Pitt, I feel that the Irish will fall asleep at the wheel for one game because of their youth, and this game is it. I think the game will start out with Pitt building a big lead early, with Notre Dame snapping out of it enough to make it close, but not enough to win the game.

WIN - Finally, it'll be Notre Dame upsetting BC for once! After getting a wake-up call the previous week against Pitt, Notre Dame will be ready to go and will win a tough, low-scoring battle.

WIN - All signs point to a Notre Dame win - revenge, better talent, and a pseudo-home crowd at the Baltimore Ravens' stadium. The Irish win in blowout fashion.

WIN - By this point in the season, the young Irish players will have ten games under their belts, and I think they'll be playing as a confident, gelled unit. Putting them up against an inferior Orange team equals a thrashing by the Irish.

LOSS - The Irish make their return to Lipstick City as a much-improved team. However, they're still not at the talent level of the Trojans, who will pull away in the 4th quarter after a noble Irish effort.