No. 15 Michigan State Spartans at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-4.5), Total 51 |
The Michigan State Spartans have been placed as one of the more shocking underdogs in college football this season. The Spartans have done nothing wrong in posting easy home wins over Youngstown State (28-6) and Florida Atlantic (44-0) to open the 2011 campaign.
The team has actually dominated this series in recent memory, winning 10 of the last 14, including six of seven games played inside Notre Dame Stadium. Granted, plenty of these contests have been close in nature, with nine of the last 11 being decided by seven points or less.
Michigan State has compiled a 38-15 record in games played against non-conference opponents since 1999, including a 15-7 mark under Mark Dantonio.
Defensively, the team has been spectacular in the first two weeks, leading the Big Ten Conference in total defense and scoring defense, allowing 151 yards and three points respectively.
Fifth-year senior quarterback Kirk Cousins will be looking to end his career as a starter in this series with a 2-1 record, which is part of his 18-9 career mark in 27 lifetime starts under center.
The college football betting public will find that the Spartans are 3-5 ATS as an underdog the last two-plus years and the ‘over’ is 6-2 in those contests.
Notre Dame has outplayed both of its first two opponents, but enters this contest with an 0-2 record and plenty of disappointment in the locker room. The Irish are one of nine schools that have gained more than 1,021 yards of total offense and have nothing to show for it.
“We’re not good enough,” commented head coach Brian Kelly in a post-game news conference after last week’s 35-31 loss at Michigan Stadium. “Pretty much told our football team that when we’re better as a football team, we’ll start winning.”
The team has failed to deliver as favorites over the years, coming into this contest with a 63-85 ATS record, which includes a 3-13 ATS mark in the last two-plus seasons.
Quarterback Tommy Rees certainly can’t be given much of the blame since taking over once again for Dayne Crist, throwing for 13 touchdown passes over his last five games of action.
The offensive line has provided great protection in allowing just two sacks in 90 pass attempts through two games of action this year.
Notre Dame has an opportunity to turn around its season, holding a 45-28-1 series lead against Michigan State. The Irish are also 4-2-1 in their last seven meetings against a ranked Spartan squad.
Bettors will likely still be turned off by the school’s 1-6 ATS mark versus Big Ten conference opponents in this betting prediction between Notre Dame and Michigan State.
