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Notre Dame Football: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2019

By Connor Muldowney

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts in the second half against the Clemson Tigers during the College Football Playoff Semifinal Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts in the second half against the Clemson Tigers during the College Football Playoff Semifinal Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 01: Shea Patterson #2 of the Michigan Wolverines throws a pass while playing the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 1, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 01: Shea Patterson #2 of the Michigan Wolverines throws a pass while playing the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 1, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

This is one of the rematches that everyone is waiting for. Last season, Notre Dame got to face Michigan in Shea Patterson’s first game with the Wolverines and the Fighting Irish dominated for most of the game and sent Michigan and Jim Harbaugh home with another loss on the big stage.

Michigan returns plenty from its 2018 squad which finished with a New Year’s Six bowl berth, only to get run off the field by Florida. Still, this team could be a force to be reckoned with if the offense can figure things out — such as how to correctly utilize Patterson’s strengths.

The losses of Karan Higdon and Chris Evans will be major, but that just means Michigan will have to rely more on the passing game and that could be a good thing. The offensive philosophy may change with the pieces the Wolverines have — such as a deadly trio of wide outs — and that could give the Irish problems.

However, I think this will be more of a defensive affair as the Wolverines exact revenge for last season’s tough loss against the Irish in South Bend with a last-second field goal and another instant classic between the two rivals.

Final Score: Notre Dame 17, Michigan 20 (5-2)

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