2007 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football Preview

2007 Notre Dame Fighting Irish season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official Notre Dame Fighting Irish football preview as well as the 2007 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football Schedule. If you are college football betting against the college football odds consider Maddux's winning NCAA football picks.

Coach: Charlie Weis (3rd year at Notre Dame)
Team Name: Fighting Irish
2006 Overall Record: 10-3
Returning Starters: 9

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame (10- 3) went to the Sugar Bowl last year where they were humbled by LSU 14- 41. In the past three years, Notre Dame has not won a bowl contest. For the Irish, an Independent team, a season comes down to national ranking and bowl victories.

Brady Quinn is gone. Now what? It's difficult to say who will start at QB for Notre Dame. It could be junior Evan Sharpley or freshman Jimmy Clausen. Either way, there's not any real experience at the helm. Dependable TE John Carlson, a senior, will be instrumental in this inexperienced offense. Senior RB Travis Thomas, who went to LB last season, is back to head the running game that has a host of tough ground gainers. The frontline returns only two, including senior center John Sullivan. Look for junior WR David Grimes (26 REC, 336 YDs, 2 TDs) to be a playmaker. Last season the passing game was rated 13th nationally and the rushing 72nd. Look for these areas to be more balanced in 2007.

The Irish gave up too may points last season—23.9 PPG. Their secondary got a little faster but not fast enough. First-time defensive coordinator Corwin Brown is getting on the job training. Senior CB Terrail Lambert (3 INTs) is a big play guy, while senior safety Tom Zbikowski (79 tackles, 44 solo) looks to have a stellar final season. Senior ILB Maurice Crum leads the line-backing group. The frontline is inexperienced.

In this rebuilding year, the Irish will find it tough going as they face a boatload of top teams, including Georgia Tech, Penn State and Michigan in their first three games. UCLA and USC are also on the list. Swing games includes those versus Purdue and Boston College. Seven wins and five loses may be the outcome and five and seven is possible. Of course, Charlie Weis, one shrewd coach and fine mentor, could surprise everyone as he has done in the past.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Home/Away
Sep 1	Georgia Tech	Home
Sep 8	Penn St	Away
Sep 15	Michigan	Away
Sep 22	Michigan St	Home
Sep 29	Purdue	Away
Oct 6	UCLA	Away
Oct 13	Boston College	Home
Oct 20	USC	Home
Nov 3	Navy	Home
Nov 10	Air Force	Home
Nov 17	Duke	Home
Nov 24	Stanford	Away

 

For more info on the 2007 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football program, view the Fighting Irish website or read up on the rest of the non BCS ncaa football teams below.