Notre Dame vs. Michigan State Pick
Can Notre Dame go on the road and pick up a cover against rival Michigan State tonight at 8PM ET? Here’s our prediction for this game.
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Notre Dame is favored on the road, as the Fighting Irish are getting odds of -3 points against Michigan State. The over/under total for the game is listed at 54 points. Notre Dame has won three of the last four between these two and the Irish are 3-1-1 against the spread in the last five meetings. Tonight’s game will take place from Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan and air live on FOX.
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Michigan State is coming off a bye week, but the Spartans are 2-0 straight up and 2-0 against the spread this season. The Spartans have been led by their defense, as MSU is allowing just 12 points and 203.5 yards per game thus far, including only 91.5 rushing yards per game. Offensively, Michigan State is putting up 31.5 points and 461 yards per game. The ground game has been the strength there as quarterback Brian Lewerke has rushed for a team-high 150 yards and two touchdowns. LJ Scott has added 125 yards on the ground. Lewerke has thrown for 411 yards and four touchdowns as well.
Notre Dame has started the season 2-1 with wins over Temple and Boston College to go with a loss to Georgia. The Irish are also 2-1 against the spread, failing to cover as a 5.5-point favorite against the Bulldogs. ND is putting up an average of 39 points and 494.3 yards per game on offense thus far. Josh Adams has rushed for 443 yards and two touchdowns to lead the offense while quarterback Brandon Wimbush has 314 rushing yards and six touchdowns to go along with 491 passing yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, the Irish are allowing just 18.7 points and 352 yards per game.
Bet on Notre Dame vs. Michigan State
Michigan State has looked really good on defense with an offense that has done enough to win comfortably. However, the Spartans have only faced two MAC teams. Notre Dame has faced a better team like Georgia, but the Irish were held in check on offense by the Bulldogs. Could the same happen tonight against the Spartans? It seems very possible. The MSU defense wasn’t great last year, but has been traditionally quite strong. MSU should be up to the challenge of making Wimbush a pocket passer tonight. If they can do that, I don’t see it going well for him on the road.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: MICHIGAN STATE +3