Michigan State vs Notre Dame Picks and Prediction for Saturday, September 19, 2026
The Michigan State Spartans visit the 3rd-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana, with the opening kickoff scheduled for 7:30 PM ET on NBC. Michigan State is 2-0 overall and 0-0 in the Big Ten after beating the Eastern Michigan Eagles 35-7, following a 30-20 victory over the Toledo Rockets. Notre Dame is 2-0 after beating the Rice Owls 52-0, one week after a 41-13 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers. Check out Saturday’s matchup with our free NCAAF picks.
Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State has scored 65 points through two games while averaging 230.5 passing yards and 204 rushing yards per game. Alessio Milivojevic has completed 38 of 54 passes for 417 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Jaziun Patterson leads the Spartans with 46 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Marvis Parrish has added 39 yards. Rodney Bullard Jr. leads the receiving group with 10 catches for 116 yards and a score, with Jayden Savoury adding 99 yards on eight receptions.
The Spartans have allowed 13.5 points per game and held Eastern Michigan to seven in their latest victory. Michigan State has recorded six sacks and one interception. Eli Coenen leads the pass rush with three sacks, while Tre Bell and Kenny Soares Jr. have one each. Devin Vaught and Brady Pretzlaff lead the defense with 13 tackles apiece. Soares has the interception, and Charles Brantley has forced and recovered a fumble.
Injuries: LB J. Hall (elbow) is questionable.
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame has scored 93 points through two games while averaging 299.5 passing yards and 114.5 rushing yards per contest. CJ Carr has completed 35 of 49 passes for 492 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions. Aneyas Williams leads the ground game with 119 yards and two touchdowns, while Nolan James Jr. has added 48 yards and two scores. Jordan Faison leads the receivers with 135 yards and two touchdowns, and Micah Gilbert has 81 yards and a score.
The Fighting Irish have allowed only 6.5 points per game after holding Wisconsin to 13 and shutting out Rice. Notre Dame has recorded three sacks and one interception. Jaiden Ausberry leads the defense with 12 tackles, followed by Drayk Bowen with 11 and Adon Shuler with nine. Bryce Young, Francis Brewu, and Boubacar Traore each have a sack. DJ McKinney has the interception, returning it 55 yards for a touchdown.
Injuries: QB Blake Hebert (undisclosed) and WR Quincy Porter (knee) are questionable.
Michigan State vs Notre Dame Prediction
Michigan State has protected the football and opened with two solid wins, but Notre Dame presents a much larger challenge on both sides. Carr has six touchdown passes without an interception, and the Fighting Irish have scored at least 41 points in both games. Michigan State’s six sacks give the Spartans a way to disrupt the passing game. Notre Dame’s defense is the bigger difference. The Fighting Irish have allowed only 13 total points, while Michigan State has scored 65 against Toledo and Eastern Michigan. Notre Dame will limit the Spartans’ scoring chances and build a large enough second-half lead to cover the point spread. Final Score Prediction: Notre Dame Fighting Irish win, 42-10.
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Best Picks
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish -29.5 (-110)
- Under 52.5 (-118)
