GAME PREDICTION: Notre Dame-Badgers Showdown - Will CJ Carr & Colton Joseph FULFILL Hype?

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1:04Valet through 9.9, Wausplies last, selection varies by location. Seelows.com for more details. Soil offer, excludes a last and Hawaii. Sunday night, Lambo field, all eyes are going to be on the Irish and the Badgers. Who's going to win the game? What are the key matchups? We're going to break it down all next on a Lockdown crossover. You are Lockdown College crossover, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. 14, every day. What is going on Irish fans? What is going on Badgers fans? Lockdown crossover. We got Lockdown Irish Lockdown Badgers. We are breaking down the massive week one game for both programs. And we're to start here. Tyler, it's great to see you again back on the show. We've done a couple of these. What does this game mean for Notre Dame week one? It means a lot. Depending on who you ask, it might mean a little bit too much. But it's just the first opportunity that Notre Dame has had to play football in so long and has been the longest offseason ever.

2:06There's been so much hype and anticipation for the season. And it's going to be the first time that Notre Dame fans have been able to watch their team play in 273 days. And when you think about the way last season ended, how everyone was under the impression that they were going to have a chance to compete for a national title. And then to find out on that faithful Sunday that they were going to get an opportunity. Everyone has been waiting for this moment. It was going to be 39 weeks exactly from selection Sunday to the day that Notre Dame plays Wisconsin. So, you know, in the big picture, it's just the first game of what will hopefully be a really long season. But I feel like everyone can't help but get so excited and probably draw some big time conclusions from one performance that, you know, might be a little bit misguided. But man, I think everyone is just so excited to watch this team play. No, we're going to overreact either way, right? I think both fan bases, no matter what are going to overreact again this season possibly outside of winning a national title. Can it live up to the expectations in the hype for Notre Dame fans?

3:06Well, that's kind of the issue. And this is unfamiliar territory. Obviously there's a portion of the Notre Dame fan base that says every year is national championship or bust. And that's always the goal. And to an extent that is true because Notre Dame doesn't play in a conference. So there is no conference championship. It's entirely dependent on what they do in the post season and their only postseason is the college football playoff. And when you have a team like this with the quarterback like CJ Carr, who's probably not going to be around next year, he's probably going to be a high draft pick in the NFL. And other guys that glendered more, Buba Cartray or like this is probably their last ride at Notre Dame. And it feels like so much has been put into the season, not just this off season, but for years now. I mean, when CJ Carr committed, everyone was kind of talking about man that second year when he's starting quarterback, that's when this team in this program can really take off. So it does feel like national championship or bust. We're going to see obviously how things shake out. They got to get to the playoff and then they got to get there first. But I honestly feel like anything other than a title might feel like a little bit of a disappointment this season, which is pretty crazy to say.

4:10I mean, it's a great speak to our spot to be in like that's I think what every fan base wants to be able to go into the year thinking that this could be the season where it all comes together and some magical and flags fly forever. You know, banners fly forever, but could it be too much pressure? And you and I talked on our previous show and I just asked the question of the off season quote unquote anger frustration for missing a playoffs. And I felt like maybe that's a little maybe a little overblown and maybe not. But can you go into a season with too much pressure and I always remember that Michigan team that I think my heart came back. I think you might have been Mario Manningham. I'm forgetting the receiver. But there were several NFL guys that came back and it was title or bust. And then they fell the app stayed in week one and the team never came together and felt like they were a victim of their own pressure in some sense. I feel like it's definitely something that the coaching staff has had to address. Not only do they have to not put too much pressure on the team and the players, but they have to manage expectations because you know for as much as a coach might say we don't let any of the outside noise get into the locker room.

5:10I'm not reading anything. I'm not listening or I'm not watching anything. I think we all know that's not really true. That outside noise is going to find a way inside that locker Nick Saban used to call it rat poison. It's just the reality of the modern college football world. Everyone has a phone. Everyone can kind of see and hear what people are saying about them. So I feel like the Notre Dame coaching staff has managed it really well and they've taken a day by day. Marcus doesn't talk about playoff run or anything like that. He's been very focused about taking it one day at a time and the leave no doubt mantra has sort of taken over this team in this program. It's become a rallying cry for the fan base and I totally get it. I think it's a great motto for this team to live by. But Marcus is broken a town to just hey it's one day leave no doubt today make sure you do everything you need to do to the best of your ability. Then you can worry about tomorrow. So I feel like the fans actually feel the pressure a little bit more than the team just in the way that the coaching staff has been able to manage it all. Talking to the the Northern bands and the people that listen to your show obviously a massive and really really intelligent football fan base.

6:14How many are coming up to Lambo like how many have circled this on the calendar making a trip out of it have talked to you. What is that like a lot of people are going to be there the fact that it's so close to Chicago certainly helps which is basically the biggest hotbed of Notre Dame fans in America even though it is a national fan base. I expect a big turnout. I'm not saying it's going to be 80 20 Notre Dame fans or anything like that. But there are going to be a lot of Notre Dame fans in the green Bay area. I'm going to be there I can't wait to see it with this being the Shamrock series game that Notre Dame puts on not every year. This is actually the 13th rendition of that it's always a big event they have events and stuff going on all weekend around the stadium. And it's usually a really fun time good opportunity for fans to come across the country and see something different like as much as I would have preferred that these two games did a home and home and you know Wisconsin had come to Notre Dame Stadium back in 2021 and this game would be played. In Camp Randall the fact that they picked soldier fields in Lambo even though I'm normally against neutral site games NFL stadiums.

7:16I feel like these two are the rare exception and it's going to be a great environment all around. I can't wait for it I'll be there as well. I know you and I've talked about figuring that out. I was at the last Badger Lambo game that was a can sell us you it's just a phenomenal place to watch a game. I think Notre Dame friends are going to have a blast. Everyone was constant standpoint. You know Wisconsin is a kind of circle to you know this is an opportunity for Luke fickle in any year that he needs to show progress to have a statement moment and that doesn't necessarily mean beating Notre Dame. It's a tremendous team a tremendous opportunity. But can they stay within a punchers you know reach into the third quarter. I think that's what Badger fans are are heading to Lambo to try to figure out you know can this game be more competitive can they look more competitive. Yeah I'm actually curious I wanted to ask you what in your mind are the benchmarks for Wisconsin for you to walk away and say okay you know that was a successful game for Wisconsin outside of winning the game. Obviously that's an entirely different discussion but just kind of where this team has been at and you know the disappointment that they face last season this new era this new team under Luke fickle.

8:22What are you hoping to see on Sunday. I think Badger fans want to see competency on offense which it just listen it's a tall task going up against a Notre Dame team that might be the best defense in college football. It's like go turn B competent week one. That that that against Notre Dame well but yeah you got to right like you got to show something and the last couple years Wisconsin offensively has just been a train wreck some of that is injuries but you can't put all of it on injuries. They haven't blocked well they've been thrown the ball well the quarterbacks have been hurt. I think it was constant comes into this game and that first half is relatively close the offense looks like is there right an identity can you look at Wisconsin playing offense and say yeah I understand what they're trying to do. And that maybe a low bar but that's a low bar Wisconsin isn't hit the last couple years. I think that's the first benchmark Badger fans are looking for. Yeah when you consider what Wisconsin has had to deal with not just the injuries but probably not the best match at the beginning of the Luc Fickle era with Phil Longo in the air raid. It just didn't work out but it seems like Wisconsin is going back to the roots so from an outsider outsider's perspective to me.

9:25I feel like if Wisconsin can run the ball effectively at all even if they don't outrush Notre Dame. I feel like it's going to be one of those things you're like all right this is the Wisconsin football that we know and love and it's good that we at least get this back on our Saturdays. I think it's well said and that's what they're going to do that's what they're going to try to do this year is going to be predicated on. We're going to control the line of scrimmages Wisconsin is a massive team this year they have a massive offense aligned or big on the defensive front. The game plan is going to be built around Tyler run the ball stop the run. It's simplistic but that's what it is. I know market treatment says it all the time and for as new school as he is he has a lot of old school philosophies and one thing that he has made a staple of this program is you have to be able to run the ball and you have to be able to stop the run. Luc Fickle obviously what a market treatments mentors I don't know if you saw this but Freeman had nothing but great things to say about like Luc Fickle during his press conference on Monday. But as you and I have talked about before even though there's probably some mutual respect I feel like there is definitely some added juice on both sides that they really want to beat in Marcus's case Luc Fickle and Luke's case Marcus Freeman.

10:31Yeah it matters right it really and Luc Fickle was was very you know he was he was very praiseful in his his description of Marcus Freeman and the type of coach he is and what he's done at Notre Dame. But you can also tell like he's a competitor and Freeman's a competitor and you want to beat each other there's a lot of connections beyond just Luc Fickle and Marcus Freeman which we talked about other assistant coaches connections to this data Wisconsin connections to the program. It matters a lot for the people in those locker room and it also matters a lot for a lot of the kids on this exit kids young men on this Wisconsin roster there's a lot of you know players that grew up going to Lambo field with their families watching the backers like couple of players have talked about this week. This game's got a lot of tie-ins and it means a lot for a lot of people. Notre Dame has a tight end James Flanagan his dad played in the NFL for a long time and I was with the Packers and then there's also Kade on Finley his dad, Drew Michael Finley was a tight end for the Packers for a long time. So it's pretty crazy how many connections there are between Notre Dame Wisconsin and the Green Bay Packers but I do want to ask one more thing about Luc Fickle's current staff.

11:37We mentioned Phil Longo that was certainly a mess when he was first hired but Marcus has poached Mike Brown former Wisconsin wide receivers coach, Gina Godouly I poached Brian Mason back when he was Celetson Sinati and then you've got Chris Ash Charlie Partridge they've all coached at Wisconsin. So can you tell me about this current staff that Luc Fickle is assembled and why it's better than what he's had in previous years. Yeah and Joe Rudolph right to I don't even know if he did. Yeah, yeah, so it's just the connections on was I said Wisconsin staff but it feels like Wisconsin staff are are wild right it's absolutely wild when you look at their staff. So I think this is Luc Fickle the first time you've had a staff that maybe is a little more fully aligned like when he came into Wisconsin you mentioned it they brought in Phil Longo Phil Longo wanted to kind of do his own thing and I think coach Fickle wanted to be more of a CEO. So this is a very important thing I'm going to do this and it just didn't align didn't work with what they wanted to do it wasn't complimentary. You bring in now Jeff Grimes for a second year he wants to run the ball he wants to use the mobile quarterback which they went out and got and then they made a big hire on the offensive line Eric Mateo is coming over from Arkansas despite Arkansas not being a very good team last year they had a really good running game a good offensive line.

12:48It feels very Wisconsin like he gets after the offensive line it matters I think that's a good hire and on the defense side coach stressful Mike Tressel has been really good for them I think that they have a good defensive staff the defense hasn't been the problem it's been those offensive pieces right and I think Grimes Mateo's finally at least there's a little bit of alignment offensively with what they want to do and what the program needs to do. But now we got a seat on the field and we're going to talk matchups here in a second I'm very curious to see how Wisconsin how you think Notre Dame is going to attack Wisconsin and we'll do the vice versa that is well that's coming up next on a crossover edition of Lockdown Badgers and Lockdown Irish but first a quick second for a tremendous friends of the show over at square support for today's episode again we we talk all the time but the tremendous partners we get to work with coming to you from square the system power so many places that we already know that we already love whether you're running a packed game day spot a local restaurant or growing business square give sellers the tools to run their business without making things more complicated square brings payments inventory payroll invoices customer insight and more into a connected system so you don't have to spend a bunch of time trying to figure those separate pieces out because that's not why you're in business so whether you're one business location are you going into multiple spots squares can help you get those tools to manage and grow without needing an IT team to figure it all out one of my favorite favorite things about square is it helps you figure out the best experience

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15:15I think the most pressing question that Notre Dame fans want to know about is what is the latest with Wisconsin's offensive line because we had heard about some potential injuries on the right side and then during loop fickle's press conference this week he said he's still not sure who is going to start and he said you might see a lot of rotation there so I'll what's the latest with Wisconsin's offensive line? Yeah and I don't think that's gamesmanship just just for the record I don't think I don't think I think he's been dead serious I don't think he knows. Unfortunately I think he is being dead serious so there's there's two key names here that Notre Dame fans kind of should be aware of one of them's Kevin Haywood who has been earmarked as the next great Wisconsin offense line to the last couple of years easing up he's starting right tackle he's really talented and it doesn't If I had to put money on it I don't think he's going to be there I just I don't think he's going to suit up Some of that I think is a business decision not not unhate what's part on the staff's part of if somebody's 85% 90% It's a long season Tyler and as important as a Notre Dame game is you need that guy for the course of the season

16:18So I don't know if he's going to play and the other guard is Emerson Mendel a key part of that interior offensive line I don't I'm not confident in either playing Um, they have more depth on the inside. So they have a guy named styles blackman or Blake Cherry both of whom are pretty the staff is pretty comfortable plugging in on the interior I don't think guards a problem. I think tackle is a spot where if you don't have a Kevin Haywood Suddenly you're going to Luke Lucas Simmons a guy that did play a lot for Florida state last year your other starting tackle is PJ Wilkins Who came over from Ole Miss who didn't play tackle last year so you could be starting Week one against a really good front seven for Notre Dame with two guys that Quite frankly, they're going to be question marks on the edge and that's the it's a massive concern. I think for Wisconsin Okay, so let's say neither one of those guys playing the rights out of the offensive line What can Wisconsin do schematically to try to mask that potential weakness as much as possible? It's still move the ball effectively Run the other way

17:21I get rid of the ball as quickly as you can. Yeah, I mean, let's not over complicate it right I I have joke but half of it is I think you just run the other way. I think you Try to run behind PJ Wilkins and Colin Coberley who are two really physical run blockers offensively and I think they'll actually be okay in the run run game right I don't know if it impacts him as much the run game as the passing game So running game you run the other way maybe some misdirection using our tight end You're gonna use cold jose to that as a runner as well not just as like all-care But someone as a decoy to make it a little easier for you In the passing game what it means is You're probably moving the pocket Which is something cold jose is comfortable with anyway You're probably using a tight end or running back to chip or adding a tight end to that side I mean, that's all well and good, but that's another guy that's not getting out into space Right, it's another guy that Notre Dame doesn't have to cover on the back end. So I think there's things you can do I don't think the wheels like completely fall off Tyler they are they're in a better spot this year From a depth standpoint then they were last year when they had an injury and then everything just fell apart

18:23But yeah from a passing standpoint I think you have to move the pocket and get rid of the ball quickly probably not a lot of five to seven man or step drops Colin Joseph's legs worry me more than his arm and I feel like the Notre Dame defensive coaching staff probably feels the same way So if you're Notre Dame and you try to make Colton Joseph beat you from the pocket How confident are you that Wisconsin can still win that way like are have you been impressed enough with Colton Joseph as a passer He's had some really nice moments in practice having Having been to practice and seeing him live. He is a good arm It's not something with a pop gun arm. He can get it out there But consistency has been a real issue for Colton Joseph. It'll be Two or three nice passes in practice and then just the passwords like you can't throw that that's gonna be a pick or Or it isn't a good practice. So If if Wisconsin is reliant on Colton Joseph From inside the pocket reading the defense going to his second or third read layering a throw in between you know tight coverage

19:23I don't think Wisconsin can win that way. Now I don't think they're capable of winning that way they have to win With Colton Joseph moving the pocket being a weapon Which means they also have to win by by keeping the down and distance and being manageable spot, right? They have to be able to run the ball They will not win this game by on the strength of Colton Joseph's arm Right when we talk about Wisconsin running the ball We have spent a lot of time talking about Colton Joseph and how effective he is especially in the design quarterback run game But Wisconsin also has a pretty good running back I was some of the transfer from Iowa state and I feel like he has almost been Not dismissed, but he just hasn't garnered as much attention from people on the outside like myself We just talk about Colton Joseph and how dynamic he is But what role do you think the running back is going to have for Wisconsin in their running game on Sunday? Yeah, they love him I think he is a guy that's been overlooked if you remember back to his time at Iowa state They're kind of a running back by committee Clayton Hanson the other back there went to Penn State Abu-Sama has been nothing but productive his entire college career and he runs between the tackles

20:27He's explosive. He's got us a Lower center of gravity so he will run through tackles They love him. They think he's a bell cow. He's the one a and they're gonna use him a time And you mentioned gold Joseph and you we I think you're right We almost talk about his legs too much But it's actually the threat of him holding the ball and you know the threat of him breaking containment That slows everything else down defensively and that's gonna open up lanes for an Abu-Sama on a zone read You know those type of things where the defense has to respect both Uh, they're gonna use that a lot and they're gonna test the eye discipline of a really good Notre Dame defense But Abu-Sama is a good back. He's gonna do the prep. He's gonna be the primary guy out of that backfield But then look for Dera and Dupri to come in on third down Really good pass blocker catch the ball out of the backfield They go two or three deep there they like all of them And it's it I think if Wisconsin has their way they're gonna hand the ball off 30 times and try to shorten the game When you came on my show during the summer We talked about Wisconsin's pass catchers and you mentioned a lot of different names that Could emerge and become a reliable target by the time that the season starts while we're pass camps

21:31So in your mind who emerged as the clear go-to guy for Wisconsin on the outside? Yeah, it's Eugene Hilton Jr I think that's the guy and a lot of football fans are gonna be familiar with that name anyway Just the pedigree of his father obviously He's a guy that was really consistent in camp. He's six-one-ish. He runs pretty well good routes great hands Does a lot of different things? Eugene Hilton is the most consistent player they have and then I think it's committee But I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing at receiver They have a lot of different types of first of body type sizes that they're gonna use and they're gonna mix and match it right crisp Brooks is gonna play a lot Um Tyrol Henry's gonna play a lot in the slot. They're gonna use a couple other guys mix and match maca malchite Coleman is a big height weight speed guy They have bodies there. I think they're okay But Eugene Hilton Jr It's definitely the guy that emerged as the I'm as into the call it a number one because when people hear number one they think of like the dominant true Receiver on the outside. I don't think he's that but he's gonna be good for them On the other side Wisconsin's defense feels like the unit that can really keep this game interesting

22:34I thought they played well down the stretch. They should be even better this season So if you're Mike Tressel, how do you attack C.J. Car in this notary moth fence without giving up the explosive plays They can break this game open Now that's that's a great question Yeah, I think you also need to make a decision Tyler like do you want to try to keep this game close and just We're gonna let C.J. Car Move down the field because I think if you play zon again C.J. Car is gonna kind of dice you up But maybe you're not giving up the big plays and maybe the scores respectable Or do you want to try to land a couple big swings and play for the win? I think that's what I would prefer. I hope that's what they do and I think they're gonna have to get after them You know, I think they're gonna have to send pressure from a couple different spots Maybe try to overload make them think a little bit. You can't let C.J. Car just be comfortable back there Now that also means you're gonna give up some stuff. He's a really good quarterback and he's good against the blitz But I think you gotta take your chances. They like their secondary Tyler. They like the the athletes they have there I think they're gonna take a couple opportunities to say we're gonna play man We're gonna send two or three linebackers and we're gonna try to get C.J. Car to move off his his spot

23:38To get a little uncomfortable and I think that's how they're gonna attack them Right, we have talked a lot certainly on my show about the linebacker specifically Mason Posa But Catalano is really good as well and then in the secondary Javon Robinson is a player who was constantly picked up in the transfer portal who I know that the team is really high on Outside of the guys that I just mentioned though. Is there one player on the Wisconsin defense that you think Could have a breakout game or really break out season But it starts by a big showcase against Notre Dame I think you look at the edge spots. So Sebastian Cheeks Was a the third pass first year last year behind a couple guys that were really good I use the guy that they're looking at to be the the nominal you go go get the quarterback guy at the edge He's twitchy good burst can bend the edge I could see him having a six or seven sacks season this year. So Sebastian Cheeks off one edge And then a young guy they love Nicholas Clayton was a four star recruit They pulled him away from Florida state at the end of cycle two years ago Really athletic six five two forty kind of the prototypical edge rusher. He definitely looks the part

24:42He just hasn't played a lot yet. So I would look for those two guys on the edges Whether Sebastian Cheeks on one Nicholas Clayton on the other they will be looked at to provide a lot of the past rush for the Spatius defense and The team is pretty high in both of them, but now we got to see it I think we both agree that Notre Dame is the more talented team on paper. So where do you see Wisconsin having its biggest matchup advantage? Yeah, it's a really good question because I I'm not gonna go on an olympic say there's a big matchup advantage anywhere I think if there's one spot I look at as a badger fan that gives me the most the most confidence It's the size and the trenches Wisconsin on the defense line is about Six or seven deep with 300 pounders including a couple 320 pound kids. They They're really big on both sides of the front the offensive line is massive They got three big tight ends. They got a big physical running back. They got a running quarterback They got a big physical defense line I think if you look at this this game and this match been particular Tyler Wisconsin can maybe keep it close because they slow down the Notre Dame rushing attack and they're able to run the ball themselves

25:43So making Notre Dame just a little bit one dimensional and then relying on those athletes in the back seven I think that's the spot where I'm latching on to the most hope as a badger fan is just the size and physicality on both sides of the line All right, we have broken down the matchups now it's time to put it all together our official predictions are coming up next Support for today's show comes to you from our great friends over at ultra pouches football season is Here, but that can be long days. It can mean early mornings late nights Plenty of time trying to stay focused and energize whether you're heading into work getting a workout in or you're just settling into a long day If football sometimes having something that can help you stay locked in can make a difference Ultra pouches are designed to deliver instant focus smooth energy in a convenient pouch without nicotine or caffeine Ultra has partnered with leading neuroscientists to great pouches Using Neutropics and affinity and L.D.A.N.E. Alpha GP6 5 minutes B6 and V12 and the result is they a pouch design to support focus mental clarity and smooth energy that lasts one to two hours Without the caffeine the nicotine or the crash, you know, sometimes

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27:51All right, Tyler a couple quick questions for you on the Notre Dame side latest injury port depth chart was released any surprises anything badger fans want to look for that that came out of that Quincy Porter is out, but that's not a surprise He's one of the two Ohio State transfer White receivers that Notre Dame picked up this off season Kixit Villamu Asa is one of Notre Dame's best players in the entire team He's a linebacker who's recovering from a tornado C. L. Entry that he suffered at the end of last season Now when you and I talked about him a couple weeks ago. I said I fully expect him to play I still expect him to play although he is listed as questionable on the official injury report I think you'll probably see him 15 maybe 20 snaps in this game. I think Notre Dame is going to utilize him in third-long situations big place Because he's still a really good player, but I think they're just trying to preserve him for as long as possible Have you get the sense and I mentioned this with Haywood and Mendel the offensive line injuries for Wisconsin You got a sense that they're just going to try to be careful with any players knowing it's a long season knowing what could be a state this year

28:55Well, they're going to be careful with Kingston But then there's Ash and Craig who's going to start at center for Notre Dame And he is also recovering from a tornado C. L. Entry that he suffered last season the differences Craig suffered his injury in the beginning of October of last year whereas Kingston's was the second to last regular season games So that was late November So I feel like that month and a half difference is pretty significant Ash and Craig has been cleared he's ready to go and there were some questions about that because he did not get fully cleared Until the very end of training camp, but he looks like he's going to go he's going to go out there and probably You know stay out there with the ones as long as possible now If something comes up and they have to pull them out maybe they rotate, but I feel like center is not in a spot We want to rotate guys in and out so Kingston is one guy where I think they're going to try to be careful with But everyone else should be full-go Notre Dame opens a game plan Are are they going to come out and attack this badger's defense? Is it going to be aggressive? Is it going to be run the ball? How do you think they're going to play this year and are this game particularly? Well Mike Denbrock is going to try to run the ball Even though Notre Dame SCJ car one of the favorites to win the Heisman this year

29:59And I feel like the offense is going to be built around car But one thing about Marcus Freeman and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock they are going to try to establish the run And even if they don't have a lot of success early on they are not going to be quick to abandon it And this is going to be one of the most fascinating matchups to watch in this entire game because Wisconsin you know despite the record last year they were really good against the run I believe there were 17th in the country in yards per carry allowed So it's not going to be easy It's going to be a great opportunity for NES Williams to prove himself as the lead back And there's a lot of guys in the offensive line who are familiar faces They've been around the program. They've started a bunch of games But they moved them around to new spots Anthony Napp being the prime example Started left tackle for the past two seasons. They moved him inside the left guard But this is a big moment for the Notre Dame offensive line to really prove themselves Because last year in the season opener against Miami Miami dominated that matchup and that is ultimately what cost Notre Dame the game So this year they're going up against another talented front seven And Marcus Freeman in this offense They're going to give them the opportunity to prove it by running the ball

31:01And we'll see who gets the better of the other Let's flip that around to the other side We talked about what Wisconsin is going to want to do offensive They're going to run them want to run the ball have a mobile quarterback Does Notre Dame do it a lot of past badger opponents have done Where's your gonna put aid in the box and play man on the outside? I think that's probably what you're going to see Last year Notre Dame started out the year playing pretty conservatively On defense they didn't blitz nearly as much as I thought they would Against Miami they did a little bit more against Texas A&M But then they started to be a lot more aggressive as the year went on So be honest, I think they were a little bit too high on their own personnel I thought they in their mind they thought they were going to be able to get pressure with forward They didn't so then they started bringing some exotic pressures linebackers are getting in the backfield And they started wreaking havoc on opposing offenses This year given what Wisconsin is dealing with in the offensive line I feel like Notre Dame should test them early Send six or seven guys and just see how that offensive line And then the running backs of past protection can hold up But they might also go the other route and say All right, we're going to get pressure with four

32:02Drop seven guys in coverage cold and Joseph try to read this defense and make a play So it's going to be very fascinating I think they're going to be aggressive but Chris Chris asked the surprises before So we'll have to wait and see on Sunday And definitely got a bad trip and set familiar familiarity with as well If if Wisconsin does pull the upset I don't think they will I've been on record as saying that But what's the one reason If you could see happening Wisconsin pulled the upset because of this It have to be the turnover battle Wisconsin would have to win the turnover battles Three to one four to one or something like that Notre Dame would have to cough the ball at multiple times Maybe on special teams You know like if let's say Jordan phason muffs a punt right and then Wisconsin gets the ball And really favorable Field position and then they only have to go 15 yards to score Or something like that I don't think Wisconsin is going to be able to move the ball Officially throughout the game against the snow-rame defense now I think they're going to put up points

33:02I'll you know I'll get to my prediction here in a little bit So I don't think Notre Dame is going to pitch a shutout or anything like that But they're going to force Wisconsin to do long sustained drives and try to prevent explosive plays So if the Wisconsin defense can come up with some big turnovers And score some points off those I think that has to be the recipe for the badgers to win this game Yeah, I know they absolutely have to win the turnover battle They have to win the turnover battle and play incredibly cleanly which they haven't been able to do in several years Who so this is like a player that people aren't talking about enough on Notre Dame Someone that after week one people are going to say wow that guy really popped or are he really kind of stepped into a bigger role here It's difficult for me to say because I spend so much time talking about this team I can't forget like wait to just like the average Wisconsin person know who this is Because they're we kind of make the joke all the time that like there is no underrated player on the Notre Dame team because every single person gets a lot of air time in the offseason Um I will say On offense we've talked about an ES Williams before

34:04Jordan Faizown was their leading receiver last year. So I'm gonna go with Jane great house Wide receiver number two on this offense who had two of the best single game performances by a Notre Dame wide receiver in the history of the program and back to back games The college football playoff in 2024 and over a hundred receiving yards against Penn State um in the college football play of semi-final scored the game tying touchdown on this 54 yard bomb He made two defenders fall and then again so high of state I mean he's supercharged that comeback with two touchdowns He spun Caleb downs and Just kind of made him look silly which was crazy and then went up on Iggba no sin and caught this really impressive catch in the end so it brings no name all the way back into a one possession game But then last year who's a non factor in the first four games and then he missed the rest of the season two to do to an injury So I feel like the college football world has kind of forgotten about him But he looked great in camp. He's healthy. He's ready to go and I think this Notre Dame passing game is gonna rely on him a ton So it might be one of those situations where he kept he catches a couple balls early and you're like oh right

35:07Like that's why people were so excited about Jane great house Well last question here and then we're gonna get in some predictions How aggressive for that depends on maybe don't watch a lot of Notre Dame maybe don't follow coach Freeman How aggressive is he if it's fourth and two from the The 45 yard line is he going for it is an ounce of kick and fake pond like or does he usually call things pretty conservatively He's super aggressive now It evolved a little bit I feel like early on in his coaching tenure He would go for it on fourth downs But he probably had a little bit too much confidence in his kickers and he'd kick in situations where he probably shouldn't have But now I mean if it's fourth and manageable He's gonna go for it And I feel like he's even going to be more aggressive now because he has C. J. Car and not only is C. J. Car a great thrower of the football his superpower might be his ability to read and process defenses like Mike tenbrock has talked before about basically Given basically giving C. J. Car the entire playbook at his disposal at the line of skirmish No, obviously denbrock's going to play is he's gonna want some plays to be run

36:07But if C. J. C. something He is allowed to check into a new place So I think the coaching staff is gonna be like look if it's fourth and two C. J. is gonna get a chance to read this defense probably have a good idea of what they're gonna want to do So he can get them into the right play the right protection all that stuff So I think they trust him wholeheartedly And they're gonna kind of give them the reins especially on those critical downs So I think you're gonna see a very aggressive Marcus Freeman I don't love that. I'll be honest as a bad guy. I don't love that All right, let's do some predictions like how do we think this game's gonna go the game flow a final score I'll kick it to you maybe to start with how just how do you think this game is going to go Okay, so I'm not gonna bury the lead. I'm gonna give you my final score right away I think no name is gonna win this game 31 to 10 But I think they're gonna pull away in the second half I'm expecting somewhat of an ugly first half. I think it's gonna be a defensive battle early on I feel like Wisconsin's run defense is gonna be really good Notre Dame is gonna be trying to run the ball They might struggle a little bit early on. I feel like just overall the team is gonna come out so amped up and ready to go

37:09Because it's the first opportunity to hit someone else for the first time since last November Which is pretty crazy for this team It has been so competitive in practice and all that the defense should be flying around making plays Make it's a big-time tackles. I'm not really worried about them early on Although I do think that they're they're gonna be a little susceptible to giving up some big explosive plays against An offense that you know, they haven't seen before in a quarterback that they haven't seen before and I imagine That Grimes is gonna throw in some new wrinkles at the Notre Dame defense wasn't expecting So I feel like Wisconsin is gonna get on the board But ultimately Notre Dame defense is just gonna wear them down But then in the second half I feel like CJ Carr is gonna get a little bit more settled in and then start picking apart the defense So ultimately I do think Notre Dame will cover that 20 and a half points bread Although I'd made I think that's pretty high But I don't think it's gonna be just like Notre Dame comes out and blows the door off doors off And I think Wisconsin is gonna put up a hell of a fight early on and then Notre Dame just ultimately runs away within the fourth quarter Yeah, I hate to just kind of agree with most of what you're saying, but I agree with most of what you're saying

38:11Um, I think the first step is is closer than people think I think the game is closer than people think for longer than people think Week one I think both defenses are pretty good. I think Wisconsin is going to Run the ball okay, and they want to kill some of the clock and the defense can play pretty well And I think you're gonna go into the third quarter and there's still gonna be badger fans kind of squinting and saying okay Do we have a shot even though I don't think it's gonna feel like there's a talent equality? I think the game is gonna be closer than people think and then I just think there's gonna be like a three or four minutes Band where the Notre Dame defense forces a turnover They score quickly then Wisconsin feels like they got to get it back another turnover Notre Dame just a lot more talented and I think when you're more talented the longer the game goes on I've always talked about playing primal high-level state It feels like you're a damn just holding on and the water keeps backing up and backing up and backing up right and you're like patchy It and and eventually just breaks and I think it'll happen at some point in the second I'm in this game or Notre Dame will go on a 14 to three run over like three minutes Yeah, are you a Milwaukee Bucks fan? I am not no. I'm a Suns fan actually

39:15Okay, so you're even more familiar with like the prime warriors days I'm not saying that Notre Dame is anything like you know the peak of the warriors when they had Kevin Durant and Steph Curry and all this But I'm a huge calves fan So I had to suffer through Three brutal NBA finals, but there was just something different. We're like even at times when the calves were It was a tight game right and maybe they were only down like five or six It just felt like Wisconsin or not Wisconsin the warriors were getting a lot easier baskets And they didn't have to work nearly as hard And I feel like that's what happens in football as well We're like even if a game is close like it's very possible that this could be 10 to three Notre Dame late in the second quarter Wisconsin is still within one possession But then let's say Notre Dame goes out and they win the middle late and I understand the middle late term is somewhat overplayed now College football analysis, but if they Score they go at 14 to three get the ball back and then score again now all of a sudden it's 20 to 3 But it didn't really feel like that for the majority of the game. That's kind of how I see this going

40:15I as much as I would enjoy it as a fan if Notre Dame came out and went up 28 nothing and half time That would that would actually surprise me quite a bit. I would not enjoy that as a fan Thailand That would not be fun. Oh, I see it Yeah, I don't I don't really disagree with that Listen Notre Dame is a tremendously talented team. I then everybody knows that and Wisconsin This is a big opportunity. I hate to say I'm not gonna use the word moral victories because I don't like the the connotation of that But is it a big opportunity for them to show progress? You know to show that they're further along than they were last year and I think Wisconsin will do that I really do think Wisconsin is gonna come out and show that this program is further along but It's just it's a monumental task Notre Dame week one could say especially considering all the new pieces that Wisconsin has Offensively. That's something we didn't even really hit on It's a lot of new Coaches on the offensive side end players. So it's a big challenge Yeah, the Notre Dame fans who are listening to this will probably recognize the game that I'm about to mention it

41:16There are some similarities between Notre Dame and Wisconsin this year with when Notre Dame played Louisville to open the season in 2019 Notre Dame had just run the table during the regular season. They made the college football playoff They had all kinds of hype going into 2019 coming off that year They played a Louisville team that was abysmal the season before now granted it was on the road and Louisville and the Notarymond that came 35-17 it was never really in doubt But it was tied 14 to 14 at the end of the first quarter and even though Notre Dame ended up winning that game comfortably It didn't feel super satisfying what we didn't know was that Louisville had kind of turned a corner And they ended up being a lot better that season than people expected they had come a long way since the season prior I feel like this game is a chance to mirror that game in some respects I think it's super fair For everybody listening to locked on Irish locked on Badgers locked on crossover We really do appreciate you guys being part of these communities these channels Stay with us over the next couple days. We continue breaking down this game and breaking down post game What we saw Tyler man safe travels to you to land all the other Irish fans

42:20If you see badger fans around just come and have a beer with us. We're pretty friendly So I've heard As always thank you for tuning into a locked on crossover edition of locked on Irish locked on Badgers And we will definitely talk to all of you guys tomorrow Caulas football is back so Hilton caught in me the superstition concierge to make your fan rituals a reality Need a room to match your lucky number. We got you want to make sure our team doesn't wash your lucky jersey Oh, that smells lucky Hilton's unmatched hospitality can keep up with any superstition even a marching band wake up call at 555 and 55 seconds When you need a team that will do whatever it takes on game day it matters where you stay Hilton for the stay It's time to partner with the home depot to supply and support your entire job Our dedicated sales professionals are here to help you with supply lists

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