While I did lean Notre Dame for a bit here -- hence the late pick -- I've come around to thinking Michigan has the right pieces to get a tough road win in a key game for Jim Harbaugh. Shea Patterson is a difference-maker at quarterback for Michigan, and the Wolverines' defense -- particularly its front -- should pressure the Irish enough throughout the game to make its own possessions count. I did not get the best value here, but I'll eat the points to pick the right side.

This spread continues to fluctuate, as the latest steam has come behind Michigan. It's tempting to back the home underdog Saturday but, as the side and total suggest, this rates to be a close, defensive struggle. Both clubs return the majority of their defensive units, which should make big-play offense and sustained drives hard to come by. This is a low total for a college game, but look for a final in the 20-17 range that sends this Under the posted total.

This is a true must-win game for both teams. I give the edge to a Michigan team that returns nine starters on defense and eight on offense. One of the newcommers is QB Shea Patterson who transfered from Ole Miss. Harbaugh's teams haven't played to their potential at Michigan, but they will in the season opener.

Expect a close contest between the Wolverines and Irish as the point spread dictates. An impactful 2017 schedule that included games against Georgia, USC, N.C. State, Miami, Stanford and LSU will toughen this year's squad. Ride the experience and upperclassmen edge over the Wolverines' overall better talent. Play the Irish.

Michigan has the transfer QB, Shea Patterson, who's got experience in big games. Notre Dame has a good defense and homefield advantage, but Michigan will be just as tough defensively and this new QB can play. In big-game preparation, I give a big advantage to Jim Harbaugh.

Michigan has not earned the right to be favored at Notre Dame, and Irish squad that has the same rating coming into the season as Michigan. The Irish deserve at least 2.5-points for homefield. But I do think Michigan will eventually earn a higher rating, beginning with a win Saturday night. Michigan has a QB now with Ole Miss transfer Shea Patterson, the one area Jim Harbaugh has no consistent production in his three years. He has 17 starters returning, mostly his recruits, including nine starters from last year’s defense that allowed only 271 ypg. Harbaugh can sell the rivalry better than Brian Kelly after Notre Dame ended the once-annual game, coincidentally, just prior to Harbaugh's arrival. Michigan gets the win.

It's very surprising to see the Fighting Irish as underdogs at home against a Wolverines team that has had offensive issues for a while. Shea Patterson threw two touchdowns and five interceptions against winning teams last year while with Ole Miss -- which had one of the best wide receiving corps in the country -- and those two touchdowns came after the Rebels were in a 35-point hole to Auburn. Against this Fighting Irish defense, it'll be too much too soon for Patterson and Co.