Tonight’s game between Notre Dame and Alabama for the National Championship is reaching the point where many people are talking themselves into a Notre Dame upset. At the very least, most people think that the Irish will at least keep the game close. This is not true.
There is a counterpoint to every “good” win that the Irish had this season. Would you like to run down the line? I would like to run down the line. There will be a lot of transitive theory in this post, and for that, I apologize. The overwhelming point I will try to make, though, is that there is enough circumstantial evidence to push towards the conclusion that Alabama will run away with tonights game. Anyways, the games.
Good win #1 – Michigan State: At the time, the Spartans were #10 in the land. By season’s end, they needed to beat Minnesota in the final week in order to get bowl eligible.
Good win #2 – Michigan: The Irish beat the Wolverines at home 13-6. The Crimson Tide beat the Wolverines on a neutral field 41-14.
Good win #3 – Stanford: This was actually a good win. I mean, if they actually won it. There were some shenanigans late, and Stanford running back Stepfan Taylor may have crossed the goal line at the end of the game. Even if he didn’t, the Irish were inches away from losing.
Good win #4 – Oklahoma: This was the game everyone thought the Irish would lose for sure. Of course, the Sooners lost some of their shine by getting blown out by the Texas A&M Aggies in the Cotton Bowl. Yes, the Crimson Tide lost to A&M as well, but at least it was only by 5.
Good win #5 – Pittsburgh: 29-26 3OTs. Oh wait, no. This is actually embarrassing. Never mind.
Good win #6 – USC: The same USC that lost their bowl game to a team with an under .500 record. Yes, this was without their veteran quarterback, but it goes to evidence that the Trojans weren’t a team that got up for big games.
The Irish have certainly surprised me all season. Even being competitive tonight would be the biggest surprise of them all.
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