Michigan Wolverines at #16 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame Stadium – Notre Dame, Indiana
Saturday, September 6, 2014, 7:30 pm Eastern, TV: NBC
Opening Line: Notre Dame -6
Current Line: Notre Dame -4
Opening Total: 54 1/2
Current Total: 56
Opening Money Line: Notre Dame -170 / Michigan +150
Current Money Line: Notre Dame -175 / Michigan +155
The Michigan Wolverines and Notre Dame Fighting Irish meet for the 42nd time Saturday night in South Bend. This will be the last game in the series for the foreseeable future because Notre Dame must play 5 games a season against ACC teams every season and could not fit Michigan into the schedule after this year. Michigan leads the series 24-16-1 and it is tied 9-9-1 in Notre Dame. The Wolverines have won 4 of the last 5 games in the series including a 41-30 win in Ann Arbor last year.
Both Notre Dame and Michigan opened the season last week with convincing wins at home against inferior foes. Michigan crushed Appalachian State 52-14 to avenge a famed 2007 upset. Notre Dame pounded Rice 48-17.
Michigan is coached by Brady Hoke. The Wolverines were 28 point favorites against Appalachian State and the total was 53.5. The last time the Mountaineers came to Ann Arbor was in 2007 when Appalachian State memorably upset the then #5 Wolverines 34-32 in the season opener for both teams.
It would be a different story this time. Michigan took a 35-0 lead into halftime, including 3 touchdown passes from Devin Gardner to receiver Devin Funchess. The Wolverines even added a blocked punt return for a touchdown with less than a minute before halftime. The Wolverines would cruise to a 52-14 win.
Michigan had 560 total yards including 350 rushing yards. Appalachian State had 280 total yards including 153 rushing yards. The Wolverines had the only turnover of the game. The Mountaineers had 8 penalties for 69 yards. Michigan had 24 first downs to 17 for Appalachian State. The Mountaineers were 7/20 on third and forth down conversions, and the Wolverines were 5/8.
Gardner completed 13 of 14 passes for 173 yards and 3 touchdowns. Running back Derrick Green had 15 carries for 170 yards and a touchdown. De’Veon Smith had 8 carries for 115 yards and 2 touchdowns. Funchess had 7 catches for 95 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Notre Dame is coached by Brian Kelly. The Fighting Irish were 20.5 point favorites at home against Rice last week and the total was 52.5. After a sluggish start, Notre Dame was only up 14-10 early in the second quarter. However, the Irish would score 27 straight points to take control of the game. Notre Dame would go on to win 48-17.
Notre Dame racked up 576 total yards including 281 rushing yards. Rice had 367 total yards including 226 passing yards. Rice had the only two turnovers in the game. Notre Dame had 23 first downs to 16 for Rice. The Owls were 6/16 on third and fourth down conversions and the Fighting Irish were 6/13.
Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson missed all of 2013 after being academically ineligible. He had a fantastic return last week. He completed 14 of 22 passes for 295 yards with 2 touchdowns, and also had 12 carries for 41 yards and 3 touchdowns. Both Greg Bryant and Tarean Folston rushed for 71 yards. Bryant had a touchdown run. William Fuller had 4 catches for 85 yards including a 75 yard touchdown catch. C.J. Prosise had a 53 yard touchdown catch for his only catch of the day.
Michigan is 4-0 ATS after gaining 450 total yards or more, 4-1 overall and against independents, 12-25-1 against teams with winning records, 3-7 after a cover, 2-5 in September, 6-15-1 in road games, 7-18-1 after scoring 40 points or more, 1-4 against teams with winning home records, on grass, and after a straight up win of 20 points or more. The underdog is 11-4 ATS in this series recently. The Wolverines are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 games against Notre Dame.
Notre Dame is 4-1 ATS against teams with winning records, and against teams with winning road records, 5-2 in non-conference games, 7-16 after rushing for over 200 yards, 2-12 after scoring more than 40 points, 1-7 after a straight up win of 20 points or more, and 0-3-1 in September. The home team is 6-1 ATS in this series recently. The over is 5-2 at Notre Dame in this series recently. The Fighting Irish are 5-2 ATS against the Wolverines at home.
Both teams looked really good last week against not great teams. They both rushed for at least 280 yards. I don’t think they will do that against each other, but I do think this could be a high scoring game. I like Notre Dame to win a close game at home.
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