Predictions: Michigan State football at Notre Dame
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Angelique S. Chengelis, Connor Earegood, John Niyo, and Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News predict the outcome of Saturday's Michigan State-Notre Dame game at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana (7:30 p.m., NBC, Peacock/760).
▶ Angelique S. Chengelis: Saline product CJ Carr has looked the part of an early Heisman Trophy candidate, as he's helped lead Notre Dame to a 2-0 record, opening with a 41-13 win over Wisconsin and then a 52-0 rout of Rice. Carr has completed 71.4% of his passes for six touchdowns and no interceptions. Michigan State, in its first season under Pat Fitzgerald, definitely looks revived under the fiery coach. The Spartans have wins over Toledo and Eastern Michigan, and quarterback Alessio Milivojevic is also completing more than 70% of his passes for three touchdowns without a pick. Cam Edwards will have to get the run game going for the Spartans to have a shot. Pick: Notre Dame, 42-13
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▶ Connor Earegood: There's part of me that thinks this one is a guaranteed blowout. A look at the line — 29½, as I've referenced all week in preview articles — speaks for itself. So do the rosters, where it's Notre Dame's haves vs. MSU's have-kindas. Michigan State is a long way off from being a contender, but there are elements you like for its ability to make this game close. Its run game is legit, and that can churn drives in a hostile environment. Jordan Hall will be back off a week's rest, and this defense plays its best with him at middle linebacker. In the end, I think CJ Carr is too good a quarterback, and this Notre Dame defense too potent, for Michigan State to pull off the upset. But how Michigan State looks in this game will tell you a lot about this Pat Fitzgerald era. Pick: Notre Dame, 34-13
▶ John Niyo: They're reviving a rivalry that sat dormant for nearly a decade. But it's going to take a while longer for Michigan State to be on the same competitive level as Notre Dame. For a road opener, this is about as tough as it gets, too. Marcus Freeman's defense might be the best in the country, particularly in the secondary, while CJ Carr looks like a quarterback in complete command. But the good news for the Spartans is that Notre Dame's run game hasn't yet shown any of the explosiveness that last year's backfield provided. Pick: Notre Dame, 38-10
▶ Bob Wojnowski: So far, the Spartans have met or slightly exceeded expectations, dispatching two Mid-American Conference opponents. This is a chance to truly measure their progress under Pat Fitzgerald. No. 3 Notre Dame has won 12 straight games back to last season and is a 29.5-point favorite, largest spread ever in the series. Quarterback CJ Carr is on Heisman lists, and has been more efficient than spectacular. He hasn’t thrown an interception and been sacked only once. MSU’s biggest obstacle is Notre Dame’s defense, especially its exceptional secondary, led by Leonard Moore, the best cornerback in the country. The Spartans have shown they can run with Cam Edwards, but can they throw on Notre Dame, with Alessio Milivojevic and an unproven receiving corps? They’ll need a couple turnovers and other breaks to hang in, but the Irish have too much of everything. Pick: Notre Dame, 41-10
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Predictions: Michigan State football at Notre Dame