Rank the 2013 Schedule

Final Three!! This is the final "least" difficult question. Next week, we'll ask for the most difficult game, with the team that doesn't win obviously being the 2nd most difficult or 11th least difficult.



I really don't know how to vote on this one. I think any of them are worthy candidates for the top spot. I think in this I'll go with Texas - since it's a home game.



Here's the schedule so far:

1. ???

2. ???

3. ???

4. vs Boise St (60%)

5. vs Utah (50%)

6. at Utah St (47%)

7. vs Georgia Tech (86%)

8. vs Middle Tennessee St (64%)

9. at Nevada (52%)

10. at Virginia (58%)

11. at Houston (38%)

12. vs Idaho St (92%)

Home field advantage.

My opinion on these three changed today. Of the three Texas is the only one I can see really testing our secondary, with Notre Dame coming in second in that regard but both Notre Dame and Wisconsin rely on their power run game to get things done so Texas to me is now the hardest game. Yesterday I would have said Texas was the most likely win of the three.

I voted Wisconsin. Even though I think Anderson is a great coach and it is on the road. I think Wisky is less talented than the other two teams by a long shot.

mormonrasta wrote:
I voted Wisconsin. Even though I think Anderson is a great coach and it is on the road. I think Wisky is less talented than the other two teams by a long shot.

Same here.

Notre Dame. They have a good running game and that's about it.

mormonrasta wrote:
I voted Wisconsin. Even though I think Anderson is a great coach and it is on the road. I think Wisky is less talented than the other two teams by a long shot.

This. Wisconsin.



After today and JJ going down, Texas just got Harder with their speedy WRs. Wisc talent is down from last year with anew coach and scheme. We are catching them in a good, beatbale year, just like Texas game in 2010. Shoulda won!



ND > Wisc.



ND away = UT at home.

I voted Texas. I think home field is the difference.



Wisconsin still has a bunch of talent.



ND beat us last year with their backup QB.

I'll take a home game against a flatland (Texas) opponent over road games against BCS teams with winning records any day of the week and twice on [Saturday].

ND, then UT, then Wisc.

Notre Dame has talent, is on the road, and they're trending up with Brian Kelly. Wisconsin has talent, is on the road, and has a coach that is VERY familiar with us. Texas has talent, but is at home, and we'll beat them.

Schmoe wrote:
Notre Dame has talent, is on the road, and they're trending up with Brian Kelly. Wisconsin has talent, is on the road, and has a coach that is VERY familiar with us. Texas has talent, but is at home, and we'll beat them.

Average combined recruiting rankings from Scout and Rivals 2009-2013:



Texas 8

ND 14

Wisconsin 51

BYU 54



FWIW, Virginia is 39 and Utah is 42.



I know recruiting rankings aren't authoritative, but they do provide a glimpse at talent levels. Wisconsin is nowhere near ND and Texas in terms of talent.

stuckinbig10country wrote:
I voted Texas. I think home field is the difference.



Wisconsin still has a bunch of talent.



ND beat us last year with their backup QB.

That backup QB is now their starting QB in 2013. But, in 2013, he will not have Eiffert to throw to (all american tight end who KILLED us in 2012) or his two leading rushers to hand the ball off to (both left for the NFL). The 2013 ND defense will be tough, but has lost some NFL talent (most notably Manti Te'o - who had a 2012 interception when we were in scoring range).



Notre Dame will be the easiest game of the final three. We know that a good BYU defense and a lackluster BYU offense could get us within 3 points against the same ND quarterback in South Bend...and that was with the better 2012 go-to offensive weapons and a better 2012 ND Defense. 2013 ND < 2012 ND.



Also, much of the 2013 BYU squad has been to South Bend and lived through the Irish game-day experience and atmosphere. Big advantage to BYU 2013 over BYU 2012.



BYU wins: 23-13.

Compelling argument YNot.

But Rasta trumps your points. Recruiting classes matter. The shelves are more bare at Wisc than ND. Coach Kelley will have almost one season to train up those new, higher end recruits.

As Long as Wisc doesn't have much of a passing game, chances are much better. I don't think Camp Randall stadium will have the awe factor that ND had last year for BYU players.

I think Wisconsin will be much tougher than the Notre Dame game. Gary Anderson has done a masterful job coaching against BYU the last several seasons. Utah State's average recruiting ranking during that time? Around #105. (Rivals 2012-2009 - 115, 77, 108, 112; Scout.com 2012-2009 - 123, 98, 107, 103)



As Head Coach for the Dairy Ewetes and with awful recruiting classes, GA beat us once and gave us two nail-biters IN PROVO (the 2011 27-24 Mathews Miracle and the 2012 6-3 slugfest). What can GA do with a team that (on paper) is twice as good as Utah State? And in front of 80,000 hostile fans on a likely cold November day? I like our chances in South Bend much better.

I easily go with ND on this one - seems obvious to me. We've got the experience under out belt now, we'll be out for revenge, their Heisman candidate linebacker is gone, and we were literally a Riley-Nelson-hitting-a-wide-open-Hoffman away from beating them last year.

P.S. They are vastly overrated.

FurriousCougar wrote:
I easily go with ND on this one - seems obvious to me. We've got the experience under out belt now, we'll be out for revenge, their Heisman candidate linebacker is gone, and we were literally a Riley-Nelson-hitting-a-wide-open-Hoffman away from beating them last year.

We couldn't stop their running game last year. It was a close game, a game BYU could have won, but they were just running out the clock once they got the lead.

FurriousCougar wrote:
P.S. They are vastly overrated.

What's your theory backing this up?