Last week I wrote two pieces, "Five Reasons Notre Dame Loses to Michigan" and "Five Reasons Notre Dame Beats Michigan."  Now, after a few days of basking long-awaited glow of beating the Wolverines, let's look back and see how well my predictions fared.

Five Reasons Notre (could've) Lost to Michigan:

• Over-blitzing:  I'd say that I dropped the ball on this one, but Michigan beat me too it.  The high-flying, Tenuta-fueled defense wreaked havoc on the inexperienced Wolverines, and really prevented most of the big plays that plagued my nightmares the week before.
• O-Line reverts to 2007:  God bless 'em, they didn't.  No sacks.  If you'd have told me that Clausen wouldn't been sacked all game, and in the rain (which I'll get to in a bit) no less, I would've bet my 1997 Chrysler Town & Country against that proposition.
• We try to pound the ball:  When it mattered, the Irish showed a lack of stubborn commitment to the run that really impressed me.  Jimmy Clausen can throw.  Tate, Floyd, Duval and Grimes can catch.  We are a damn good passing team.  The second half time of possession stats indicate that, when pressed, we can grind out a victory and hold onto a substantial lead.
• It rains:  Even though it rained AND we won, I'm not gonna beat myself up on this one.  The Irish were dominant before the rain, and then used it to their advantage in the second half.  However, rain and a precision passing game do not mix.  Ask Kyle Rudolph.  He had a Carlson-esque missed catch in the downpour that could've ended up going for six the other way if Clausen had zipped the ball to him at about 150 mph.  Had it been raining the entire game, I can't say with complete confidence that the final score would be the same, although I won't go so far to say that the Irish would've lost.
• The kicking game:  Was a non-factor.  Although props to Walker for hitting his XP in the monsoon and for doing a passable job on kickoffs as well.

America.

Five Reasons Notre Dame Beat Michigan:

• We throw the dame ball: Check
• We let Michigan's offense self-destruct: Check
• Turnovers: Check
  
• Ladies and Gentlemen...Michael Floyd: Check
  
• Home field advantage: Check 

Big one I forgot:  Golden Tate.  4 catches.  127 yards.  Welcome to the show, sir.

I honestly couldn't care less if i was wrong on every one of this things as long as we keep on winning.  That was the most fun I've had watching ND football since Pitt 2005 (USC '05 still hurts to much).  Keep it up, Irish.  Next up:  Sparty and his terrifying sword.