CyberZahm

After three games Irish are 3-0, with an expected win over Navy, a grind out win over Purdue, and an upset win over the higher rated Spartens, keeping them out of the end zone and limiting them to 3 points.

Of those of us who predicted game by games wins and losses both Andy and Mags had us at 3 - 0 at this point. I'll give Andy the edge due to his statement we would "come out strong against Navy".

See original predictions -->

Below you will find the original contest call for predictions and copies of what was sent in before the first game.

Here I list the basic predictions in decreasing order of optimism. Everyone who included game by game win/loss predictions predicted a win over Navy. I'll send out an update now and then if I remember.

9 - 3 Dave
9 - 3 Mags
8 - 4 Willo (actually wrote 8 or less wins but we will call that 8)
8 - 4 John
7 - 5 Gabes (although after 40 point Navy victory wrote "9 - 3 wouldn't surprise me")
6 - 6 Andy (gets credit for saying 'comes out strong versus Navy')
6 - 6 Hans
5 - 7 Fox (loses credit for saying Navy game would be close)

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Here ye here ye, one and all.

Announcing Fox's 6th annual ND season prediction contest.

Are you man enough to enter? .. confident in your prognostication prowess? ..

So, don't be strangled by complacency, just send, by August 31st, directly to me, a single paragraph of no more than 300 words with your prediction for the upcoming season. I'll post them for all to admire on the CZ News Site on Sept 1 and also send a note to the list .. just in time for breakfast with the Irish on Sept 1.

I think this works best if you send your predictions ONLY to me ... that way everybody gets to make predictions without undue influence.

Come the end of the season a set of impartial judges will evaluate all the entries based on a weighted scale that includes entertainment value ("Gabes will be calling for the coaches ass by the end of September"), accuracy ("they will lose badly to Mich State, lose a squeaker to USC, and win the rest of the games by an average of 4 points"), grammar and spelling ([not] "season be it good and vary happy winnings"), boldness ([not] "they will win every game in which they score more points than the other team") and just how all around good they are or should I say were. The winner will get a really amazing, yet so far undetermined, prize and will be featured on CyberZahm News!

Last year's winner won a trip to Argentina!

Thanks.

Fox

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Sigh.

I'm predicting a 5-7 season that feels worse but is better.

W in Dublin vs Navy. Close game

W vs Purdue, also close. Gabes has a woodie at this point and is singing Kelly's praises.

L vs Mich State

L vs Michigan

W vs Miami in Chicago as CZ support proves critical. Wide screen TV sales get a big boost when Andy and Jack moon cameras during third quarter scan of crowds by network.

LLL to Stanford, BYU, Oklahoma ... CZ emails fly fast and furious finger pointing and talk turns to that amazing women's soccer team

W vs Pittsburgh

Split vs BC and WF .. lets say W vs BC and L vs WF but could go the other way

L vs the cheating bastards from southern cal .. wormhunter caught poisoning white horse's food trough

5 - 7 ouch

Fox

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Fox,

My prediction is below. No peeking until you’ve made yours. Mine is exactly 300 words.

Gabes

Seven and five. Losses to Trojans, Oklahoma, Stanford, Michigan State and Miami. Fox blows Weis!

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Fox,

With a very difficult schedule facing them, an unproven QB, a defense that just lost its only experienced defensive back, and a 20 year history of mediocrity as a Division 1 football program, I don’t think ND will finish better than 6-6 with unrealistic fans clamoring for the heads of the AD, the Coach, and maybe some players as well.

Having said all that, my prediction is that they will come out strong against Navy, get the hype rolling a week later in Purdue, upset the Spartans in East Lansing, and then give Michigan a strong game at home before losing in the fourth quarter.

After a week off, they will come back in the win column with a good performance over Miami at Soldier Field while the Cyberzahmbies cheer them wildly on, some actually from really good seats.

Stanford will roll into ND a week later and pound the bejesus out of them at home, infuriating ND fans everywhere to be playing so flat.

BYU will give them a tough go the next week, but the Irish will hang on for the victory.

The following week, Oklahoma will pound them like rented ponies in Norman. It will not be pretty.

Pittsburgh will shock them at home the following week as they spiral downwards. Fans will get ugly.

Boston College will push them around at BC, and the despair will continue.

Luckily, the Deacon Deamons will be around for a last win at home.

USC will use them as a practice squad to perfect that pass routes to all receivers.

6-6. Nobody will care about the worthless bowl that won’t even make Al’s collegiate bowl pool.

Oh, and in between all of the above action packed weekends, John will help us remember that ND’s women’s soccer club is one of the best programs in the nation.

Andy

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9-3. We beat the Sooners.

Dave

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I think it's time we switch to female sports predictions....you male chauvinist pig.

Terry

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Fox - 6-6 is my prediction. I hope we do better. Hans

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Fox:

8-3 for Season plus a Bowl win.

W's:
Navy
Purdue
Mich St
Miami
BYU
Pitt
BC
Wake Forest

L's
Stanford
Okla
USC

Total points scored (regular season): 299

Total points allowed (regular season): 235

For my winning prize, I would like a trip to Ireland.

Mags

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Fox,

I skipped over the Michigan game- add as W making us 9-3. Make total points 328 and points allowed 248.

Mags

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Just got back from Vegas. The line on ND wins is: Ov 8 1/2, +160; Un 8 1/2, -200. I think that means that the money is saying 8 or less and I will go with that. In fact I will be amazed if they go greater than 500. Willo the Greek

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My guess is 8-4. Whatever progress this team is making is masked by its crazy ass schedule. Plus the team is young at QB... Going up against multi year starters in 3 very tough opponents (USC, Michigan and Oklahoma). Tough to imagine wins there. Add in Stanford, MSU... Well. 8-4. Let's hope so.

John

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