Michigan vs. Notre Dame Betting Odds: Fighting Irish at -5
Carrie Stroup here with your Michigan vs. Notre Dame betting odds for Week 4 College Football. Open an online betting account today at Sportsbook.com and receive up to $250 in FREE CASH. Mobile wagering is available.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Notre Dame -5 & 49
Opening Line & Total: Fighting Irish -6.5 & 51.5
No. 11 Notre Dame looks for its first 4-0 start to a season in 10 years when No. 18 Michigan comes to South Bend for a Saturday night matchup.
Although the Wolverines are 5-1 (SU and ATS) in the past six meetings of this series, the past three matchups -- all Michigan wins -- have each been decided by exactly four points. Denard Robinson compiled 446 total yards and 5 TD in leading the Wolverines to 28 fourth-quarter points in a crazy 35-31 comeback win over Notre Dame last year, throwing a TD pass with two seconds left on the clock. But this season’s Irish defense is much improved, limiting two straight Big Ten opponents (Purdue and Michigan State) to a combined 20 points and 140 rushing yards on 55 carries (2.5 YPC). Michigan has not impressed this year, as it was blown out by Alabama on a neutral field and then barely beat 21½-point underdog Air Force at home by six points before crushing UMass last week. The Wolverines have not been able to beat excellent teams sporting a PPG margin of 17+ points in the past three seasons, going 0-6 ATS. And Notre Dame is 6-0 ATS after allowing 17 points or less in a two-game stretch since the start of 2010. The Irish also have this historical trend in their favor: Favorites of 3½ to 10 points after allowing nine points or less in its previous game against an opponent coming off a first half of 24+ points are 70-26 ATS (73%) since 1992.
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Robinson has scored multiple touchdowns in eight straight games, but he’s also thrown at least one interception in seven of those eight contests. Not only did he explode on the Irish last year, but he also amassed a school-record 502 total yards and scored the game-winning TD run with 27 seconds left in his lone trip to South Bend in 2010, a 28-24 victory. All told, Robinson has 387 rushing yards on 48 carries (8.1 YPC) in his career versus Notre Dame. Junior RB Fitzgerald Toussaint was suspended for the season-opening loss against Alabama and played sparingly against Air Force, but he is finally starting to help this offense again, rushing for 85 yards on 15 carries in the win over UMass. This will be his first career game against the Irish. The passing game has been balanced, as no Michigan player has more than eight receptions. Devin Gardner leads the team with 155 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Although Michigan has been steamrolled on the ground so far, allowing 211 rushing YPG (104th in nation), the Wolverines rank 12th in the nation against the pass (158 YPG). They’d be even greater if they pressured the quarterback more, as Michigan has mustered just three sacks in three games.
Notre Dame will once again start sophomore Everett Golson, despite his 14-of-32 performance at Michigan State last week. Backup QB Tommy Rees is also expected to play though. Rees, who helped lead the Irish to a win over Purdue two weeks ago, played against Michigan last year, completing 27-of-39 throws for 315 yards, 3 TD and 2 INT. Senior RB Cierre Wood also had a big game at Michigan last year with 134 rushing yards and a touchdown. He also looked strong in his season opener last week, gaining 56 yards on just 10 carries in East Lansing. Although Notre Dame’s defense has been outstanding with 10.0 PPG allowed (8th in FBS) and 289 total YPG allowed (18th in nation), it will not have starting safety Jamoris Slaughter, who tore his left Achilles tendon last week. The Irish have 11 sacks already this year, led by Stephon Tuitt’s five sacks, and they have forced seven turnovers in the three games.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
