Simulation Picks
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Understanding Public and Money
Read More
Expert Picks
This is a gut play more than anything else. Neither Michigan nor Notre Dame have impressed me this season -- losing on the road at Georgia is still losing, and the Bulldogs have not looked that great in their own right. The Wolverines' defense in the Big House under the lights should be able to control the Irish for the most part, and I liked seeing Shea Patterson gain confidence in the second half against Penn State. For all the criticism Jim Harbaugh gets against his team's play in big games, Brian Kelly is 4-11 in true road games against ranked opponents. The Wolverines have a good chance to win this outright, but I'll take any points I can get.
This line has fluctuated and we're missing the chance to take points with Michigan, but a pick'em line will have to suffice. the Wolverines were basically written off after their blowout loss to Wisconsin, and many observers seem to have ignored their gradual improvement. A major morale booster would be a win that stops Notre Dame's playoff hopes. it says here the Wolverines get it.
Michigan lost to Penn State last week, but it wasn't all bad news. The Wolverines offense finally seemed to find the gear it'd been missing all season in the second half, and they should be able to carry that forward here. Still, I'm not ready to trust Michigan in a big game. I am comfortable with the Over, however. The Over has gone 11-5 in Michigan's last 15 home games and is 37-16-1 in its last 54 overall. Also, the last four meetings between these two in Ann Arbor have featured an average of 61.75 points per game.
The Fighting Irish have averaged 7.42 yards per play in October and have had two weeks to prepare for a reeling Wolverines team that struggles to move the ball consistently and has ball security issues. The Fighting Irish are tied for 13th in the nation in takeaways with 14, and Michigan has given away the ball 14 times -- tied for 109th in the nation. Ian Book will play smart while Shea Patterson will continue his erratic play. Notre Dame will win outright, but take the points if you want.
The focus on Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh’s straight-up record -- 0-8 against ranked opponents, 1-10 as an underdog -- has helped drive down this spread. There is a lot to like about Notre Dame. Coach Brian Kelly’s hasn’t lost a game outright after a bye since 2011. The Fighting Irish have covered three in a row. Yet the Wolverines are coming off their best half of the season, albeit in a defeat at Penn State, and QB Shea Patterson looked sharp, finally. Michigan has weathered a challenging schedule, with three top 20 teams already, which should have it battle-tested against the Irish. Take Michigan.