Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football 2011 Preview, Predictions, Picks, Odds | Sportsbookbuzz.com

Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football 2011 Preview, Predictions, Picks, Odds

As the 2011 NCAA Football Season approaches, we are providing season previews for every college football teams to give you the betting edge. Follow the best College Football Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2011 season preview. Be sure to bookmark SportsbookBuzz.com your source for Sportsbook Reviews. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the College Football in our recommend sportsbooks.View the rest of our 2011 NCAA Football Season Previews here.

2010 Record: 8-5 2011 Returning Starters: 19, 9 offense, 8 defense, kicker, punter

Coach: Brian Kelly, 8–5 (1 year)

Offensive Coordinators: Charley Molnar Defensive Coordinators: Bob Diaco

2011 Notre Dame Players to Watch: QB Dayne Crist, RB Cierre Wood, WR Michael Royd, WR Theo Riddick, TE Tyler Eifert, LB Manti Te’o, LB Darius Fleming, S Harrison Smith

2011 Notre Dame Strengths:
The defense made big strides at the end of last season, and with most of the starters retuming, the Irish will look to build on that stretch, led by Te’o at middle linebacker. Crist, who has had two knee surgeries, and Tommy Rees give Notre Dame options at Quarterback.

2011 Notre Dame Weaknesses:
There is little depth at running back with only scholarship players Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray entering the season healthy. The Irish might have to rush freshman Cam McDaniel into duty if there is an injury, or if Gray doesn’t pan out as Wood’s backup.

2011 Notre Dame Offense:

Although the Irish have two quarterbacks with playing experience which is two more than they had a year ago at this time the position remains a bit unsettled with the talented Dayne Crist and the savvy Tommy Rees reaching for the starting job. Crist went 4–5 as the starter without much help from a rushing attack or a defense. When Rees took over for the injured Crist, both the running game and the defense picked up, which made Rees a winner despite his three interceptions and a fumble in a comeback victory at USC. Now talented youngsters Andrew Hendrix and Everett Golson are in the mix. The Irish are lacking depth at running back and receiver, but they still boast a decent starting unit with Cierre Wood at running back, Michael Floyd, Theo Riddick and TJ Jones at wide receiver, and Tyler Eifert at tight end. The Irish need senior Jonas Gray (75 career carries) to provide the big-back option that graduated Robert Hughes offered in victories over USC and Miami. Senior John Goodman (15 catches) and junior Robby Toma (14) also will be in the mix at receiver, as will senior Mike Ragone, redshirt freshman Alex Welch, and possibly true freshman Ben Koyack at tight end. The line is the most settled area on offense with starters returning at both tackles (Taylor Dever and Zack Martin), right guard (Trevor Robinson) and center (Braxston Cave).

2011 Notre Dame Defense:

Eight starters are back from a defense that improved as the 2010 season progressed, including junior inside linebacker Manti Te’o, whose 133 tackles were the most by an Irish defender in 27 seasons. Te’o is joined along the front seven by veteran ends Kapron Lewis-Moore and Ethan Johnson, as well as four exciting up-and-comers redshirt freshman nose guard Louis Nix III, true freshman ends Aaron Lynch and Stephon Tuitt, and true freshman outside linebacker Ishaq Williams. The outside linebacker corps also is solid with veteran Darius Fleming at the Cat outside linebacker spot and sophomore Prince Shembo at the Dog outside linebacker position. The Irish lost a good one in the secondary to graduation cornerback Darrin Walls but Gary Gray and Robert Blanton both excelled in 2010 and are playing with confidence and a swagger. Tying it all together on the back end is fifth-year senior Harrison Smith, whose seven interceptions in 2010 were the most by an Irish defensive back in eight seasons.

2011 Notre Dame Special Teams:

David Ruffer has made 23 of 24 field goal attempts in his career, and the former walk-on owns the school record with 18 in a row. Ben Turk has averaged just more than 38 yards per punt in the past two seasons and seeks more consistency. Notre Dame averaged a mere 5.4 yards per punt return. Bennett Jackson needs to build on his kickoff return performance of 22.2 yards per return.

2011 Notre Dame Football Schedule | Notre Dame Football Sportsbooks

2011 Notre Dame Predictions:

Most of the defenders who spearheaded the 2010 revival are returning, and so are most of those skill position athletes who were forced into the lineup prematurely due to injuries. Sprinkle Floyd back into the mix, maximize Wood’s abilities, and find a quarterback who can avoid the crucial mistake, and it looks like the Irish should be able to generate enough offense to accommodate an improving and suddenly depth-laden defense. The combination of Kelly’s offensive track record and the improving defense could send the Irish in pursuit of a BCS bid in 2011.

2011 Notre Dame Betting Odds:

Notre Dame Current odds to win a National Championship: +1800

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