Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/81334
Point • Counterpoint: What team has the best chance to upset Notre Dame this season? Boiler Up Melt Down? By Dan Murphy Amid the juggernauts on Notre Dame’s schedule this year there are plenty of pothole games that could trip the Irish if they look too far down the road. To call visits from Miami, Stanford and BYU potential upsets isn’t fair to those teams. The real sleepers on this schedule come in the first few weeks of the season and the final weeks before a season finale at USC. Of that group, the biggest threat is right on the horizon in this year’s home opener against Purdue. The long road back from Ireland has nothing to do with this pick. The Irish slept in their own beds the night they played Navy. The Boilermakers, and new defensive coordinator Tim Tibesar, might have the tools they need to clamp down on Notre Dame’s young offense. Purdue features a couple of playmakers at cornerback that will test Irish quarterback Everett Golson’s accuracy and a big run-stopping force in senior Kawann Short. Purdue has been on the verge of getting back to competitive games with Notre Dame for the past two or three years under head coach Danny Hope. Is 2012 the season it actually comes to fruition? Pitt Could Pickpocket ND By Wes Morgan Head coach Paul Chryst, who previously served as Wisconsin’s offensive coordinator and was instrumental in an offense that set six school records in 2011, should have plenty of weapons at his disposal in his first year at Pitt. Senior running back Ray Graham and quarterback Tino Sunseri are back to lead the Panthers, which finished 6-7 last season. Graham looks to get back to his 2011 form after missing the final five games with a knee injury. Named to the preseason Walter Camp Award and Doak Walker Award watch lists, Graham ranked second in the nation in rushing (134.1 yards per game) before being sidelined. Sunseri has started 26 consecutive games for the Panthers. Much like Notre Dame last season, Pitt was undone by turnovers. Sunseri was responsible for 11 interceptions against 10 touchdown passes, but should be better this year in Chryst’s pro-style offense. There is quite a lack of depth particularly on defense for the Panthers, but they went 5-0 last year when they scored 33 or more points. The Pitt offense in 2012 will be very capable of controlling the tempo of the game and putting up points, making it one of the most dangerous underdogs against Notre Dame.