4* NCAAF *Marquee Matchup* (ABC) on Notre Dame +6

Notre Dame vs. Michigan State, 09/15/2012 20:00 EDT, Score: 20 - 3

Point Spread: +6/-110 Notre Dame

Sportsbook: BETONLINE

Result: Win

4* NCAAF *Marquee Matchup* (ABC) on Notre Dame +6
Notre Dame has won two of the last three in this series with the lone loss coming by just three points. It won last season's meeting 31-13, and it will have an excellent chance to come out on top again this year.

Notre Dame's defense is good. It did a number on Michigan State's running game last year, holding the Spartans to only 29 rushing yards on 23 carries. Kirk Cousins wasn't able to do enough for the Spartans to prevail. If Cousins couldn't get the job done, I'm confident the inexperienced Andrew Maxwell won't be able to either.

In addition, Notre Dame should get a boost offensively with the return of running back Cierre Wood.

Underdogs of 3.5 to 10 points in non-conference games in the first month of the season - a bowl team from prior season that lost their last 2 games - are 44-15 ATS since 1992. Teams fitting into this situation have been underdogs of 6.5 points on average but have only lost by an average of 2.1 points. This system is already a perfect 3-0 ATS this season.

The road team is 9-2 ATS in the last 11 meetings, and the Fighting Irish are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings at Michigan State. Bet Notre Dame.