I know what you mean

by Jeff (BGS) , A starter home in suburban Tempe, Friday, May 15, 2009, 12:00 (6284 days ago) @ domer.mq

But I can only see two scenarios where that happens:
1) ND is extremely unlucky on the injury front this season or
2) a handful of teams come out of the woodwork and greatly exceed expectations, resulting in ND losing a handful of close games

Given the talent our opponents have lost from last season and the schedule, scenario #2 is highly unlikely. The teams most capable of putting together surprise seasons are probably MSU, BC, UConn, Stanford, and possibly Michigan). Three of those games are at home, and I have a very hard time believing ND can play good fundamental football and lose more than 1-2 of those games. Playing well and losing will be difficult to do against any team but Southern Cal.

#1 is a possibility for any team, but this season's ND team has the depth that should mitigate a single injury causing the team to tailspin.