Notre Dame vs. Michigan State: 3 bold predictions

1. Neither team passes for a touchdown

While Notre Dame has already gone two games in a row without a passing touchdown, this prediction may be impeded by a Spartan offense that has seen four in two games. However, both of these defenses tend to fare better against the pass than the rush, with neither team allowing more than 90 yards to an opposing receiver.

Notre Dame has allowed five passing touchdowns over three games while Michigan State has yet to allow one. With both teams likely to rely heavily on their respective run games, there’s a good chance some holes open up in the pass game. However, expect both squads to look to their ground game when they enter the red zone. If it ain’t broke, right?

There are a lot of possibilities for the potential direction of this game. Does Brandon Wimbush turn completely one-dimensional and crumble alongside the rest of the Irish or does he pull another version of what we saw last week? Either way, there’s little room for the pass game in either of those scenarios.

Likewise, there are numerous possibilities for the direction of the Spartan offense. Will we see the Bowling Green Lewerke or the Western Michigan version of the signal caller? Again, we can trust that a much stronger Irish defense will lead the Spartans to rely much more so upon their backfield.

Next: 5 reasons for the Irish to be wary against MSU

Regardless of how this game pans out, it would be a shocker to see either defense cede more through the air than on the ground. Either way, this game shapes up to be another good one in one of the game’s most exciting rivalries.