Michigan State’s first road test of the season comes in Week 3, and it lands in one of the toughest possible spots: a trip to Notre Dame. The Irish are ranked No. 3, sit among the national championship favorites, and bring in quarterback CJ Carr, who entered the preseason as the favorite to win the Heisman and now has the fourth-best odds.
For the Spartans, the challenge is obvious. Beating Notre Dame would require what the source calls “an effort of historical proportions.” Still, Michigan State is headed into this one with the kind of mindset that comes with being named after warriors known for exactly that sort of task.
Here are the game details:
Michigan State at Notre Dame
Saturday, September 19 at 7:30 PM
Notre Dame Stadium; South Bend, IN
TV: NBC
Betting: ND -29.5; over/under 52.5 (FanDuel)
There’s also additional matchup coverage available from Mike’s Preview and from Robbie and Mike on the latest episode of the Red Cedar Rundown.
As for the prediction, the call is for Notre Dame to win but not cover the spread. The projected score is 38-17, with the Spartans taking the loss.
That same 38-17 score was used last week, when the MSU side of the prediction was accurate but the opponent side was not quite as sharp. The writer also noted a separate prediction for the Notre Dame game over on One Foot Down and said, “Wish I could have predicted an MSU upset, but I’m not there yet.”
Last week’s most accurate score prediction belonged to ChicagoZeke, who nailed a 38-10 call. Predictions for this week can be submitted in the comments.
In Other News...
Michigan State Just Made Izzone Campout Even Bigger This Year
Michigan States annual Izzone student section campout already has a built-in sense of occasion, and this fall it will come with an exhibition game attached. The Spartans are using the event as part of their preseason build-up, with a roster that mixes new transfers and returning pieces from last years Sweet 16 run, and the timing gives fans an early look at how the group is coming together before the grind of the Big Ten schedule begins.
The Spartans also have another exhibition on the calendar against Marquette in Milwaukee later this month, before the Golden Eagles visit East Lansing later in the season. With the full league slate now in hand and the preseason details starting to take shape, theres a little more buzz around the program than usual, and the campout just became more than a tradition for students waiting out the night. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan States First Real Test Will Expose One Early Problem
Mel Tucker said this week he likes the way Michigan State believes it can win every game, and the early schedule has backed that up. The Spartans head into their meeting with undefeated Notre Dame with a chance to see how far that confidence can carry them against a ranked opponent that has already looked every bit the part. It is the first real measuring stick of the season, the kind of game that tends to reveal whether an opening stretch was simply solid or actually sustainable.
For Michigan State, the bigger question is how quickly the details tighten up once the level of competition rises. Consistency has to improve, and so does the run defense, because Notre Dame will make the Spartans prove they can hold up across four quarters. Special teams and field position also loom large, giving MSU another area where a clean performance could matter as much as anything else if it wants to turn this early confidence into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Has One Clear Path To Make This Rivalry Interesting
Michigan State heads into the Megaphone Trophy game as the clear underdog, but that is not the same as being without a path. The Spartans have been leaning on recent performance gains and a coaching reset to make this matchup feel a little less lopsided, and the formula is pretty simple from their side: shorten the game, stay on schedule, and make Notre Dame work for every yard it gets.
For Michigan State, the first test is whether it can keep its offense on the field long enough to matter. Winning third downs, controlling time of possession and creating pressure up front are the kinds of ingredients that can turn a rivalry game from routine into uncomfortable for a higher-ranked opponent, and that is where the Spartans will have to live if they want any chance at an upset. The broader challenge is obvious, though, because this one hinges on whether Michigan State can disrupt the quarterback and force Notre Dame out of its rhythm. [Read more 🡒]