Michigan (-2) at Notre Dame (3:30 pm ET, NBC)
Michigan and Notre Dame renew their longstanding rivalry on Saturday but with different than normal circumstances surrounding the game.
Both teams are struggling and in need of a win to steer their seasons in the right direction. Michigan is a 2-point road favorite, and the Sportsbook Betting Public has caught wind of it, backing the Wolverines at a better than 85% clip.
For years, this has been one of the saltiest rivalries in college football, always one to be counted on for excitement and high entertainment value. However, in three of the last five years, the outcomes have been rather one-sided, with Michigan winning by 26 or more points.
Coach Rich Rodriquez is trying to win while bridging the gap to where he wants this program to be in the future. By now he’s figured out W’s count for a lot in Ann Arbor and style points carry nearly as much weight.
The offensive line has not been cohesive and the rest of the offense has lacked the ability of just playing football, instead of being instinctive. This will come, yet can bettors wait on a team that is 7-20 ATS in non-Big Ten games versus an opponent not from a true BCS conference?
Off Notre Dame’s mixed performance against San Diego State, it’s not easy to get a true read if the Irish are really improved. The style of play is different, trying to be more physical up front. Sophomore quarterback Jimmy Clausen is being asked to do less, while producing more.
Last week, the offensive line was essentially as bad as last year’s, as runners gained a mere 3.1 YPA against a less than vaunted San Diego State defense. Irish backers are familiar with a 2-10 ATS mark in home games when they rush for 2.5 to 3 yards per attempt.
The underdog in this series has covered 11 of the last 13 and is 19-4-1 ATS since 1978. Michigan leads the all-time series 20-14-1.
