ISD Game Predictions: Michigan State
It’s Friday, and that means game prediction time once again. The Irish are trying to build on an impressive win over Boston College last weekend, and Michigan State will be coming off a bye as they prepare to take on Notre Dame Saturday evening. Both teams really struggled after their meeting last season. Which team will come out on top on Saturday.
Mike Frank
This game is always a battle, and I don’t expect anything different on Saturday night. The Spartans lost a lot of key people off their team over the off season due to graduation and all kinds of shenanigans, but MSU coach, Mark Dantonio, has seemed to right the ship in short order, and the Spartans look very stout once again.
Notre Dame wants to run the ball, but MSU has always been strong against the run. The Spartans also love to run the ball, and ND’s run defense, while improved, still has some question marks. Both teams have a stable of impressive running backs who can eat up yards quickly.
This game will likely come down to turnovers and which young quarterback plays better. That’s a bit of a concern for me considering Irish QB, Brandon Wimbush, has not played particularly well the past two games. Will Wimbush bounce back on Saturday.
The Irish somehow find a way.
Notre Dame: 27 Michigan State: 24
Christian McCollum
The Irish offense isn’t rolling quite yet, but it does enough to get out of East Lansing with a victory.
Quarterback Brandon Wimbush has another up-and-down outing, but unlike last week’s game against Boston College, when he ran for over 200 yards, this week, he proves he’s a threat with his arm. It’s not a completely clean performance as he misses some throws and turns the ball over once, but he also hits on some passes he missed last week, including a pair of touchdown tosses to Equanimeous St. Brown.
Josh Adams again leads the Notre Dame rushing attack, but it’s a big play from Dexter Williams that gives the Irish a two-score lead in the fourth quarter.
Mike Elko’s unit delivers another impressive outing, limiting the Spartans to barely 300 total yards of offense. Shaun Crawford, Nyles Morgan, Drue Tranquill and Daelin Hayes lead the way on that side of the ball.
Notre Dame: 26 Michigan State: 21
Jamie Uyeyama
really wish Michigan State had played a game last week or had played a game against a Power 5 opponent. They beat two MAC teams to open the season. While they were impressive at times in those games, they also showed plenty of flaws that would have allowed better teams to beat them. A game against a better opponent would have given me a little bit better idea of where they are at.
After their bye week, I expect them to be better than they were in those games against the Irish, but not better enough to win this game. They'll play tough and physical, but I can't imagine this Notre Dame team not matching that. Sparty has a good defense again, but they don't have the athletes that Georgia had on that side of the ball. Especially up front.
I think the Irish will win the battle up front on offense and be good enough when it matters up front on defense. They'll run the ball and take away a lot of the home field advantage. Throw in a couple of big plays in the passing game and I think they'll be in control of this one by halfway through the fourth quarter.
Notre Dame: 27 Michigan State: 16
Matt Freeman
Notre Dame comes out of the gate fast but doesn't get points. A fumble in the red zone gives Michigan State all the momentum they need as Gerald Holmes takes it 89 yards to the house the next play.
The Spartans continue to battle all through the first half and completely overwhelm Notre Dame on both sides of the ball, but a late 54-yard field goal from Justin Yoon brings the score to 17-3 at the half.
The Irish just don't have enough juice for a comeback despite Brandon Wimbush throwing for 218 yards in the second half. However, Shaun Crawford gets his first pick-six of his career and gives the Irish hope a la Terrail Lambert.
You know that fake field debacle last week? Well, that keeps Michigan State busy enough through the week to not rush guys as Yoon hits two more field goals to bring the score to 17-16 late in the fourth.
Wimbush drives Notre Dame down the field late by hitting Chris Finke for a 31-yard play to setup Yoon's 34-yard game winning field goal after a delay of game penalty to push the ball back.
Notre Dame: 19 Michigan State: 17