The Anti-Preview: Notre Dame Fighting Irish VS Michigan Wolverines

Welcome to the season-opening Anti-Preview on One Foot Down! Friends, it’s been a busy week as we are all preparing for this showdown between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Michigan Wolverines.

I almost thought that I was going to run out of time to get this out — but there’s always room for a little spectacle in our lives, and I just couldn’t put this series to bed. Not now — not with the Skunkbears coming to town. So, the series lives on, but in a much more compacted version than in the past.

It’s so ANTI.

WHAT SHOULD YOU BE DRINKING?

There is only one possible answer this week... IT’S FUCK MICHIGAN 40’S WEEK Y’ALL!

That’s right, grab your favorite malt beverage and prepare yourself for war with that state up north. While I love suggesting different liquors and mixed drinks to people, I hate beer snobbery and people telling people what beer to drink because your sucks and theirs is a sophisticated masterpiece of hops and chocolate and oatmeal and bullshit from organic bulls and blah blah blah... pick your own 40. I enjoy Mickeys (especially one wrapped in a brown bag — downtown coozie style).

Stay safe out there!

WHAT SHOULD YOU BE EATING?

Obviously the Anti-Preview is running a bit late, so any recipe would be a waste of time. Might I suggest a box of Apple Pie Lara Bars? Super healthy, super good, and you’re going to need something good in your body after the 40’s hit that gut all day.

#IrishEatGreen

WHAT SHOULD YOU BE WEARING?

Well... duh.

Remember The Six Shirt

• $28

The rivalry has been renewed. And the last game—and true score—has not been forgotten.

Blue and gold print on a super-comfortable heather green tee. Premium, lightweight blended crewneck (60% cotton/40% polyester). Durable, yet ultra-soft. Unisex sizing with a snug fit. Men should size up; women should size down.

Designed by Nick Torres.

Screened in the USA.

• $28 at Breaking T

(This shirt has a shelf life of at least a decade).

KEY(S) TO THE GAME

Even if you’ve been under a rock all week, you already know that everyone is talking about two wide picture keys:

• Brandon Wimbush vs the Michigan Defense
• And the apparent Heisman campaign of Shea Patterson

What no one is mentioning might end up being the most important key by the end of the night. SPECIAL TEAMS Y’ALL! With so many people calling for this to be a close game, the special teams units could be the swing factor here.

Think about this rivalry for a second. So many great plays and wins were because of great special teams play — whether that be in the return game (Nick Coleman), kicking field goals (Justin Yoon), or flipping the field with a sweet punt (hello Captain Tyler Newsome), this series has seen it all.

AT THE END OF THE NIGHT...

This game probably goes against the grain of what everyone has been saying (which is a close low-scoring game). I really do think special teams tips the scales here, and Notre Dame has the better special teams units. Jafar Armstrong has a strong game, and people remember that the Notre Dame defense is still formidable.

Notre Dame 27, Michigan 17

Twitter @NDFootball