Phil Steele: Michigan +6
By: Phil Steele
The Wolverines travel to South Bend to take on the Fighting Irish in a classic college football rivalry.
Michigan is 1-7 ATS in road openers losing six in a row straight up. The dog is 9-1 ATS (also 16-3-1) in this series, but Michigan is just 6-14 ATS the week before its Big 10 opener.
The 27 pts combined last year was the lowest since 1979 and 2nd-lowest since 1909. Michigan is off a vanilla 41-17 win over Central Michigan in which the Wolverines had 23-14 FD and 386-204 total yard edges. UM has yet to really crack open the playbook as QB Chad Henne is averaging 124 ypg (51%) with a 2-0 ratio.
RB Hart has been revitalized with 262 yds (5.2). The Wolverines’ D has allowed just 29 rush ypg (1.2) with 10 sacks and rank #3 in pass efficiency allowing 156 ypg (46%) with a 3-1 ratio.
The Irish took advantage of numerous Penn State (botched FG att, 3-0 TO deficit) to make a close game a 41-17 rout. QB Quinn is avg 267 ypg (65%) with a 3-0 ratio. RB Walker has 155 yds (3.7). Wide receivers McKnight & Samardzija have combined for 25 rec (11.9). Notre Dame has the edge on offense (#3-17) but Michigan has it on defense (#1-11), and a big edge on ST’s (#5-74).
Gotta' take the points here in this classic rivalry.
Forecast: Michigan 23 Notre Dame 24
Play: Michigan +6
By: Phil Steele
The Wolverines travel to South Bend to take on the Fighting Irish in a classic college football rivalry.
Michigan is 1-7 ATS in road openers losing six in a row straight up. The dog is 9-1 ATS (also 16-3-1) in this series, but Michigan is just 6-14 ATS the week before its Big 10 opener.
The 27 pts combined last year was the lowest since 1979 and 2nd-lowest since 1909. Michigan is off a vanilla 41-17 win over Central Michigan in which the Wolverines had 23-14 FD and 386-204 total yard edges. UM has yet to really crack open the playbook as QB Chad Henne is averaging 124 ypg (51%) with a 2-0 ratio.
RB Hart has been revitalized with 262 yds (5.2). The Wolverines’ D has allowed just 29 rush ypg (1.2) with 10 sacks and rank #3 in pass efficiency allowing 156 ypg (46%) with a 3-1 ratio.
The Irish took advantage of numerous Penn State (botched FG att, 3-0 TO deficit) to make a close game a 41-17 rout. QB Quinn is avg 267 ypg (65%) with a 3-0 ratio. RB Walker has 155 yds (3.7). Wide receivers McKnight & Samardzija have combined for 25 rec (11.9). Notre Dame has the edge on offense (#3-17) but Michigan has it on defense (#1-11), and a big edge on ST’s (#5-74).
Gotta' take the points here in this classic rivalry.
Forecast: Michigan 23 Notre Dame 24
Play: Michigan +6