Let me lead off by saying that tomorrow I'll post "Five Reasons Notre Dame beats Michigan."  When someone tells me that they've got good news and bad news, always ask for the bad news first.  That way, when you hear the good news you're like, "Oh, well, that bad news isn't so bad," instead of "Oh, well, that good news isn't so good."  I digress.

1. OVER-BLITZING: I like the blitz.  I really do.  It's fun to watch, it scares young quarterbacks, it puts Tenuta's kids through private school, but Chris already went in depth about the danger of over-blitzing on Saturday so I'll leave it at this:  The last time Tenuta squared off against a DickRod offense this happened.  For those of you too lazy for the link, Pat White rushed for 145 yards on 22 carries and Owen Schmitt went for 109 on 13 carries.  Now Threet is no White, but Owen Schmitt isn't exactly a speedster and Steve Slaton only had three carries for eleven yards.

2. O-LINE REVERTS TO 2007: You've seen this picture a thousand times, but I can't think of a more succinct and clear image that defines last year.

Least important thing about this picture: Check out the definition on Jimmy's calf.

I was at the Big House last year.  I stayed 'til the bitter end.  By the fourth quarter I was able to make my way down to the 7th row and found myself sitting next to James Aldridge's mom.  Two things I learned:  First, Jake Long is a monster.  Second, if you ever find yourself at a football game and the most exciting thing that happens is that your team might break out of negative rushing yards, you deserve a drink or a hooker or a hooker bringing you a free drink or at least a coupon for one of the two.

3. WE TRY TO POUND THE BALL:  ...especially to the left.  It'd be great if we were a power running team, but we're not.  Not against this Michigan front seven, at least.  Sure, it's demoralizing to your opponents, it eats up clock, blah, blah, blah, but it's probably pretty damn demoralizing to run into a brick wall time and time and time again.  Our determination to be something we're not leads to play-calls like draw play up the gut on 2nd and 10.  You know what hurts 3rd down conversion percentage?  3RD AND 7!  The weak link on the Wolverines is not run defense: They've only given up 83 yards in two games and teams average 1.13 yards per carry.

2. IT RAINS:  This one is entirely out of our hands.  I know, I know, the power of prayer, but honestly, rain would be just about the worst thing that could happen to the Irish on Saturday.  Two reasons:  1) I imagine that trying to tackle a wet Sam McGuffie or Michael Shaw would be something akin to wrasslin' with a pig in slop.  2)  Sometimes our young receivers have butterfingers, and butter is oil-based.  Wet butter is a thousand times more slippery than regular butter.  Young passing game + rain = many a pass skipping off receivers hands and into waiting Wolverine arms.  Also, a wet football is hard to grip and throw.  Duh.

1. THE KICKING GAME:  I'm gonna do this in two parts:  First I break him down, then I build him up.  Brandon Walker has been terrible.  Charlie Weis lost confidence in his kicker last year, and honestly Walker did little to earn anything more.  It's time for this kid to earn his spot on the roster rather than just being the least worst option.  If he can't connect on basic forty-yard attempts this Saturday, the Irish will be at a severe disadvantage.

Now, to buiId him back up: I kicked for a year in high school, and I was always nervous as hell before, during and after every PAT and FG attempt.  So, I can only imagine how awful it must be to be Brandon Walker.  I am not going to disparage him.  I am not going to insult him.  He is a talented kicker, but he's gotta believe in himself.  Ask Diego Serna.  For those who might not remember, Serna missed PATs against LSU in 2004.  Oregon State lost 22-21.  After the game he got a letter from a twelve year-old boy who was battling cancer.  The kid told him not to worry, to believe in himself.  Serna hit every single remaining PAT the rest of the year and went 16 of 19 on field goals.  Moral of the story:  If you have the ability, and I believe Brandan Walker does, you just have to believe.  The difference in this game could be as little as three points, Walker's gotta believe that he can be that difference.  We all need to believe in him too.