Rockne's Roundtable

9-3 sounds right to me.....I think if the QB steps up then it could be 10-2 or better. They have that capability but there are obvious questions. I'm with Lou in thinking the O/U in Vegas will likely be set at 7.5. The thing many people are overlooking is that many of our opponents have questions as well. The schedule looks tough in name value but:

1) We should start 2-0
2) We get Michigan here under the lights and they will have already been demolished by Bama in week 1 and I think we finish what we gave away last year.
3) MSU loses a lot on offense at QB and RB, although they do return I believe 9 DEF starters
4) Stanford will be back to being 6-6 or 7-5 with the losses they experience
5) Miami is still a mess although I think Golden is a hell of a coach and they lost some pieces(Lamar Miller)
6) OU has some guys to replace but they have been vulnerable to a WTF loss as well, Landry could light up our young/inexperienced secondary
7) Pitt, BYU, Wake Forest, BC - We know what should happen especially with BC appearing to be regressing under Spaziani
8) USC - we have the talent to beat them and it's the end of the season so we have time to develop into a much better team by then(or much worse LOL).

I can see anywhere from 7-5 to 11-1. Kelly is a proven winner and he will get this thing turned around so I don't doubt what could happen this season but I will say we go 9-3. We lose the 2 expected and then we give away one of the toss-ups. I would consider 9-3 against a solid not spectacular schedule as a successful season and we should have a shot at a solid bowl win. We gave away a BCS game last season and I like the changes Kelly made to the staff and think we will see the improvement in the offense as long as a QB steps to the forefront. We will have one one of the Top 10 front 7's in the country next season and the secondary is young and inexperienced but I like the pieces we have back there(Please God no injuries)!

I know this is just a way of having fun and an attempt to jump-start the season, but predicting ND's W/L record remains a fool's errand. Too many variables. Plus, Kelly, with his annual 61.5% winning percentage, remains an enigma. Is he a true uber-coach or not? So far, I've not seen his inner Ara -- or Joe Torre for that matter. Just that beefsteak tomato face.

Regardless of how much Tommy Rees will have improved by September, if he's the starter, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. The kid is a risk manager's nightmare.

Then there's the schedule.

ND has never had an 0-fer year, and I'm pretty certain that won't occur. The chances of replicating Weis's 3-9 are also fairly low.

That's as far as I'm going. The VIX (volatility index) for ND football is still too high.

I like the cut of your jib Bob!