Michigan at Notre Dame College Football Picks and Predictions 9/1/2018

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Notre Dame Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

Notre Dame Stadium is the venue for the game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday, September 1, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Michigan as 1.5 point favorites. The Fighting Irish were 8-5-0 against the spread last year and their over/under mark was 6-7-0. The Wolverines were 5-7-1 ATS and their over/under record was 7-5-1.

Valuable Michigan Wolverines Betting Trends

The Michigan Wolverines were 7-5-1 against the over/under last season

The Michigan Wolverines were 5-7-1 against the spread last year

Important Notre Dame Fighting Irish Betting Trends

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish were 6-7-0 against the over/under last season

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish were 8-5-0 against the spread last year

Key Michigan Wolverines Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Notre Dame Fighting Irish Injuries

08/05/18 RB Dexter Williams Suspension is OUT weeks 1-4

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Michigan Wolverines ran for 2,310 yards as a team last year, which ranked 46th in the nation. They ran 529 times, averaging 4.4 yards per rush as a unit. The Wolverines were penalized on offense 86 times for 744 yards last year, which had them 31st in the country in penalties. They were 84th in Division 1 in points scored with 328. They ran 875 plays last year for 4,536 yards, which ranked them 106th in the nation in total offense. The Wolverines averaged 5.2 yards per play, which was 103rd in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 228 1st downs last season, ranking them 105th overall as an offensive unit. Shea Patterson completed 166 throws while attempting 260 passes for a completion percentage of 63.8% last year. He passed for 2,259 yards. He averaged 8.4 adjusted yards per throw and 8.7 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating last season was 151.5.

Defensive Statistics

The Wolverines rush defense gave up 451 attempts for 1,572 yards last season, putting them in 17th place in the country against the run. They had 72 penalties for 599 yards on defense last year. That placed them 38th in Division 1. Michigan was 10th in college football in points surrendered on defense with 244. They gave up a total of 3,523 yards on D, which was 2nd in the nation. The Wolverines were 6th in yards per play allowed with 4.5. Opponent offenses completed 160 throws on 328 attempts against the Michigan Wolverines defense last season, ranking them 6th and 12th in the country. The Michigan pass defense also surrendered a total of 1,951 yards in the air, which was 3rd overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Michigan Wolverines tried 23 field goals last year and made 20, which was 21st in college football. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 79%. Michigan Wolverines kickers made 92% of their extra points, going 35 for 38 last season. Their punters accumulated 3,073 yards on 77 punts, averaging 40 yards per punt. That ranked them 102nd in the NCAA in punting average. Michigan was 1st in the country in punt returns with 42 last season. They totaled 328 punt return yards and averaged 7.8 yards per return, which was 58th in D-1. They returned 31 kicks for 577 yards on special teams, which put them 111th in kick return yardage. The Wolverines averaged 19 yards per kick return and they were 95th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 5,441.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Fighting Irish were 31st in Division 1 in points scored with 445 last year. They ran 911 plays last season for 5,829 yards, which ranked them 100th in the nation in total offense. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish averaged 6.4 yards per play, which was 20th in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 274 1st downs last year, placing them 51st overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Notre Dame ran for 3,504 yards as a team, which ranked 8th in the country. They ran 559 times, averaging 6.3 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Fighting Irish were penalized on offense 75 times for 633 yards last season, which had them 67th in the nation in penalties. Brandon Wimbush threw for 1,870 yards last season. He completed 136 passes on 275 attempts for a completion percentage of 49.5%. His quarterback rating last year was 121.4. He averaged 6.8 yards per pass attempt and 7 adjusted yards per throw.

Defensive Statistics

Notre Dame was 32nd in the nation in points allowed on defense with 280 last season. They surrendered a total of 4,800 yards on D, which was 56th in Division 1. The Fighting Irish were ranked 24th in yards per play allowed with 5. Opposing offenses completed 252 passes on 445 attempts against the Notre Dame defense last season, placing them 89th and 104th in the country. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish pass defense also gave up a total of 2,791 yards through the air, which was 60th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense allowed 506 attempts for 2,009 yards last year, putting them in 56th place in D-1 against the run. The Fighting Irish committed 85 penalties for 718 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 84th in the nation.

Special Teams Stats

Notre Dame was ranked 23rd in the nation in punt returns with 25 last year. They accumulated 156 punt return yards and averaged 6.2 yards per return, which was 89th in college football. They returned 35 kicks for 712 yards on special teams, ranking 75th in kick return yardage. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish averaged 20 yards per kick return and they were 33rd in the country in all-purpose yards with 6,698. The Fighting Irish attempted 18 field goals last season and made 14, which was 70th in D-1. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 78%. Notre Dame kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 55 for 55 last year. Their punters totaled 2,769 yards on 64 punts, averaging 43 yards per punt. That placed them 27th in Division 1 in punting average.

Who will win tonight's Wolverines/Fighting Irish college football game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the Fighting Irish +1.5

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