Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Michigan Wolverines Odds & Game Pick (2019 College Football)

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Brian Kelly and his seventh-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish head to Ann Arbor Saturday evening to take on the No. 20 Michigan Wolverines, both in desperate need of a big win. For the Fighting Irish, the hope of a second consecutive College Football Playoff appearance is top of mind, and they know they may need not only wins but decisive ones to get in. For the Wolverines, it’s already been a disappointing start to the season, dropping both of their tougher contests by a combined 28 points. In what is the marquee primetime matchup in college football this week, let’s take a deeper look at this contest between blue-blooded football programs.

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Michigan Wolverines

Saturday, October 26th, 2019 – 7:30 pm EST
Michigan +1, O/U 50 (via PointsBet)

Seemingly every year Kelly and his Fighting Irish are in the conversation come the end of the season, and this season is shaping up to be no different. While the offense has been humming along with 454 yards and 39.2 points per game against a schedule that has featured Georgia, Virginia, and USC, the defense has been a cause of concern. Through six games (5-1), this Notre Dame defense has struggled to keep opposing offenses in check, allowing 348 yards of total offense per game, including 152.8 on the ground. The last time the Fighting Irish took the field, now a full 14 days ago, they overcame a slow start against their rival in USC but still allowed over 400 yards of offense to a Trojans team that had previously struggled to move the ball. If Kelly and his staff are unable to get this defense figured out and fast, they could be in trouble against a Michigan team whose backs are against a wall as the season’s home stretch turns into sight.

The Jim Harbaugh experiment, by any measurable metric, should be nearing an end in Michigan, as he once again has failed to win the big game against a ranked opponent on the road, falling to both Penn State and Wisconsin already this season. Starting Saturday with Notre Dame and finishing the last week of the season against Ohio State, Harbaugh needs to get this team in gear or I expect his days to be numbered. What was by all accounts expected to be an improved and more high-powered offense has once again sputtered led by Shea Patterson, ranking 68th in the FBS at just 29 points per game. In a sport largely dictated by quarterback success, Patterson has been a step lower than pedestrian. Through seven games, Patterson has a 9:4 touchdown to interception ratio and has completed just 57.4% of his passes. The last time on the field last weekend in State College, the Wolverines couldn’t overcome going down 21-0 early, ultimately losing 28-21 against yet another ranked opponent on the road.

Bottom Line?

While he’s been better than Patterson, Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book has largely been a game manager to this point in the season as he has been for most of his career. While Michigan lacks offensive prowess, they have largely been carried to this point by a defense allowing just 285 yards and 19 points per game. With their back against a wall, I absolutely believe they have the talent and character to rise to the occasion to give this team every chance to win. In what I see as the first team to 21 having the best chance of winning, I’m taking the under in what I expect to be a defensive slugfest with neither side giving much of an inch from the opening kickoff.

Pick: Under 50

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