The Anti-Preview: #10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish VS #15 Wisconsin Badgers

For 14 years I have provided the most irrelevant game preview for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish — but I’ve also provide the most relevant fan preview for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (don’t @ me).

SO LFG!

The Irish doubled up the spread last week against Purdue, and it didn’t move the needle even one slight inch across the national media (or some on the beat it would seem). One would never guess that Notre Dame was 3-0 and still a top 10 team (thanks coaches).

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

So... a 3-0 Irish squad that’s ranked #10 is taking on a 1-1 Big Ten West school that is ranked 15th — and they’re doing it on a neutral field... in Notre Dame’s backyard of Chicago. And oh yeah — Notre Dame is like a 6.5 underdog.

WTF?

Welcome to the 2021 season, because it’s wild and weird and probably only going to get wilder and weirder.

Wisconsin Badgers

I’m not going to waste my solid buzz typing anymore words about Wisconsin. They can’t throw the ball, and lack the overall team speed that Notre Dame possesses. If you need more, I can’t recommend this week’s OFD Podcast more.

What should you be drinking?

I don’t mind telling you that I was a little worried after shooting my shot with a Chicago slam dunk (yay sports metaphors!) last week with Old Style. But then I quickly remembered the perfect choice for this week, and I started to feel a little better about the situation — and then Philip Gough knocked it out of the park.

The Chicago Handshake

In the Chicago drinking world, the Chicago Handshake is slang for a drink special involving a shot of Jeppson’s Malört paired with an ‘old-school’ Midwestern beer, most typically Old Style Beer. Although Old Style originated in Wisconsin, it became Chicago’s beer after crossing state lines in 1935. Sponsoring the Cubs in the 1950s solidified Chicago’s love of Old Style Beer.

What should you be eating?

There is no other choice. Home Run Inn BAYBEEEE!

What should you be wearing?

In an odd twist of the fates here... I have a recommendation that usually never falls off of these lips (or fingers). Go ahead and wear the Shamrock Series gear. It’s okay if the jersey looks like it came off the rack at Wal-Mart, because it looks hella good on the boys.

HAIKU

Too much disrespect,
Kyle Hamilton is too good
Yeah, OFF Wisconsin.

3 reasons to hate Wisconsin

• The Badgers agreed to this unholy agreement to play on a neutral field.
• They won a NY6 game against Western Michigan.
• They hurt my boy Jack Coan’s feelings — fuck ‘em.

At the end of the day...

I’ve been all over the map with this one since the summer. Per usual, of course, I don’t remember the score I said on the podcast, so this is how I’m feeling right now at 12:10 AM Thursday night... While I fully recognize that Notre Dame’s offense has been uneven (to put it kindly) and that Wisconsin has a very good defense, I think this comes down to Wisconsin’s offense being completely unable to complete a pass of 20+ yards, and Notre Dame being much more explosive on the offensive side of the ball. I really do believe that Notre Dame’s big play capability will eventually decide the game, and by the way — Kyle Hamilton plays for the Irish. Notre Dame 26, Wisconsin 13

Down The Line @downtheline1842