Notre Dame is ranked #15, and the Irish host #17 Michigan at night in South Bend, IN with nearly 81,000 fans; it will be the first night game in this series at Notre Dame Stadium. The Wolverines lead the series against the Irish, 22-15-1, and have won three in a row and five of the last six meetings including two of the last three at Notre Dame Stadium. Michigan leads the series against Notre Dame in South Bend, 9-8-1. Irish fans are hoping that Denard's luck has run out as they have started 3-0 for the first time in ten years. Team 133 for Michigan tackles Team 125 for Notre Dame. Brian Kelly has never defeated Michigan.

On Offense, Notre Dame is led by Sophomore Quarterback Everett Golson; he is small, but quick and mobile and is an accurate passer. Senior Theo Riddick is their lead running back, and he is backed by Senior Cierre Wood and Sophomore George Atkinson. All are excellent tailbacks with Atkinson being their speediest. In 2011, Wood gained 134 yards in 25 carries against the Wolverines. The Irish have one outstanding reciever in Tight End Tyler Eifert; he is a returning 1st Team All-American and has started 24 games for the Irish. Eifert is their typical "go to" guy on 3rd and long. Captain Jordan Kovacs will have a hard time covering Eifert. Their wide receivers are Junior T.J. Jones and 5th Year Senior John Goodman although Riddick also will go to wide out when Wood moves in at running back. In 2011, Riddick had 6 receptions for 62 yards and 2 TDs against Michigan. Sophomore DaVaris Daniels and Senior Robbie Toma will also see action at wideout. Their wide receivers are all capable and talented. The offensive line is led by Senior Left Tackle Zach Martin and 5th Yeear Senior Center Braxton Cave, they have started 27 and 25 games at Notre Dame respectively. The Irish Left Guard is Chris Watt and Right Guard is 5th Year Senior Mike Golic Jr. with Junior Christian Lombard at Right Tackle. Notre Dame's game plan will be to run the ball down Michigan's throat, and game films from the first three games on Michigan's defense showed the Irish that they execute that game plan effectively. Although Notre Dame gained only 52 yards against Purdue and only 50 against the Spartans on the ground, they plan to run for over 200 against the Wolverines. Notre Dame doesn't have a great offense, and their game plan offensively will be more conservative rather than "wide open." Notre Dame never has to apologize for talent because they always have the nation's top football talent, and we recruited many of their players. Greg Mattison coached at Notre Dame from 1997-2004, and will have to have his troops prepared to stop the Irish if Michigan is to have a chance in this one. Last year, Notre Dame gained 513 yards on the Wolverines, 28 first downs and held a time of possession advantage of 14 minutes resulting in 22 more offensive plays than Michigan. The Irish lost a 7-24 lead, and lost 35-31 when Michigan scored 28 4th quarter points.

On Defense, Notre Dame is led by Senior Hawaiian Linebacker Manti Te'o; he has started the past 39 games at MIKE. Outside SAM Linebacker is Junior Prince Shembo, and Senior Inside WILL Linebacker is Dan Fox. Sophomore Ishaq Williams, Junior Danny Spond, Sophomore Jarrett Grace and Senior Carlos Calabrese will also play at linebacker. They are mobile and force turnovers; Notre Dame is ranked #11 nationally in turnover margin. Junior Louis Nix is the Nose Tackle, Sophomore Sackmaster Stephon Tuitt is one Defensive End, 5th Year Senior Kapron Lewis-Moore has started 32 games at the other Defensive End. Tuitt is ranked #3 in sacks with 5, and he has 3 quarterback hits and a forced fumble. Defensive End Sheldon Day will also play along with Tony Springmann at Nose Tackle. The Defensive Line Coach for the Irish is former Wolverine Mike Elston who played 1993-96 and was on the football staff 1997-2000. In the backfield, 5th Year Senior Jamoris Slaughter and Senior Zeke Motta are the safeties; each is a three year starter. Notre Dame's Safeties Coach is Bob Elliott, Ann Arbor Pioneer High School 71 Grad and son of Bump Elliott. 5th Year Senior Dan McCarthy, Freshman Elijah Shumate and Sophomore Mathias Farley will also get reps at Safety. Junior Bennett Jackson mans one corner and the other corner is Freshman Keivarie Russell. If Michigan is to move the football, they must develop the passing game since the Irish will be geared to stop Denard and Touissaint in the run game.

Michigander Kyle Brindza, a Sophomore from Plymouth, handles the Irish placekicking, and is 4 of 5 so far this year including a 47 yarder against the Spartans. He also handles kickoffs with 9 of 19 resulting in touchbacks. Ben Turk is the punter, and he has a 41.5 yard average with 6 of his 15 punts downed inside the 20 and 4 over 50 yards. George Atkinson is the Irish kickoff returner, and Freshman Davonte' Neal handles their punt returns.

Home field advantage is huge, especially in a night game. Revenge and the lack of winning in this series are also large factors in this test. Michigan will have a difficult time running, and establishing a running game; conversely, it looks like the Wolverines will have significant problems stopping the Irish running attack especially with a mobile quarterback. This is not a "must win" game, but certainly a good rivalry. Michigan can win, but to win, they must win the turnover battle and mix the pass with the run effectively against a very strong Irish defense defending their home turf and remembering the humiliating come from behind loss a year ago. As always, I hope I'm wrong.

Michigan 16 Notre Dame 24