Notre Dame vs. Michigan State betting preview: Odds, picks, predictions, kickoff for Week 3 college football
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The Fighting Irish host the Spartans in their Week 3 matchup. Here's what bettors need to know about the game
• 3 min read
Two undefeated programs with a lot of familiarity with one another renew their rivalry on Saturday as the No. 3-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish clash with the Michigan State Spartans in South Bend. This is the first meeting in the Battle for the Megaphone since back in 2017. Each side is 2-0 in the early stages of 2026, but it's the Irish who are viewed as a national championship contender, and they have one of the best players in the country under center in CJ Carr, a potential Heisman Trophy contender. The Spartans are in Year 1 under former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald. Bet on Notre Dame vs. Michigan State and Week 3 college football at DraftKings and get $200 in bonus bets when you spend $5+:
Anyone who wants to wager on Notre Dame vs. Michigan State in Week 3 needs to see what the SportsLine Projection Model has to say. The model simulates every FBS game 10,000 times. It is on a 33-21 run on top-rated CFB money-line picks on betting sites since the 2024 season, and it has been upgraded for the 2026 season to better factor in the transfer portal. Anybody following its picks on college football betting sites could have seen strong returns.
Notre Dame vs. Michigan State betting odds (via DraftKings)
| Notre Dame vs. Michigan State money line: | Notre Dame -5000, Michigan State +1800 |
| Notre Dame vs. Michigan State over/under: | 51.5 (Over -112, Under -108) |
| Notre Dame vs. Michigan State spread: | Notre Dame -28.5 |
Notre Dame vs. Michigan State betting preview
The Irish declined to partake in last season's bowl games after failing to be selected for the College Football Playoff. The team looks determined to not miss out a second time, having started with a 41-13 win over Wisconsin before bullying Rice 52-0. The meeting with Michigan State represents a second meeting with a lower-end Big Ten team in three outings. Carr has been strong thus far, going 35-for-49 for 492 yards and six touchdowns. Leading receiver Jordan Faison has eight catches for 135 yards and two scores.
While the Spartans don't necessarily represent too daunting an opponent for the Fighting Irish (as the heavy spread would indicate), Notre Dame does need to treat this rivalry game with real seriousness. The toughest remaining opponents on Notre Dame's schedule are No. 11 BYU (away), No. 5 Miami (home) and No. 16 SMU (home). Notre Dame should be capable of beating all three, even though a trip to Provo is never easy.
There isn't a Big Ten or SEC heavyweight in that group, which means the Playoff committee will want to see the Fighting Irish beating up on all of their unranked opponents. Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has all the incentive in the world to keep the gas pedal floored for the duration of the game.
For Michigan State, the Spartans are already halfway to matching their 2025 win total after winning both of their first two games. Former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald provides an experienced hand at the helm and should give Michigan State a fighting chance to reach .500. Getting one of those wins in South Bend, however, is probably too great an ask.
Notre Dame vs. Michigan State picks, prediction
Over 51.5 points
Eight of Notre Dame's 12 games last season eclipsed this number, with the Irish getting the job done by themselves three times. With the Irish incentivized by the committee (and their status as an independent team) to pile on the points, there's reason to believe that this will be a high-scoring game. The SportsLine Projection Model agrees. It has the Over hitting in 66% of its simulations.
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