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Predictions / Week 3, 2026 / Michigan State at Notre Dame

Notre Dame vs Michigan State Prediction: Will Notre Dame Cover -29.5?

Backdoor Cover’s model projects Notre Dame -28.81 for Michigan State at Notre Dame, 0.7 points off the market’s Notre Dame -29.5, and gives Notre Dame a 99% win probability.

Week3
DateSat, Sep 19
Kickoff7:30 PM
VenueNotre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
TVNBC

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My model
Notre Dame -28.81
Notre Dame wins 99.2% of simulations
0.7
points apart
The market
Notre Dame -29.5
the latest available line

What this tells us

My model is less bullish on Notre Dame than the market. It projects a decisive win but stops short of the margin the market is pricing in. That divergence between two reads of the same game is what my system is built to flag.

Model pick
Michigan State +29.5

The model's side at the current line. It isn't a bet. I only bet a small share of the model's picks.

Weather at kickoff

71°F
temperature
6 mph
wind
68%
precipitation

Precipitation is in the forecast.

How the number is built

The model rates every FBS team on efficiency, adjusted for opponent, and refits every week. It predicts a score, which becomes a spread and a total. Backdoor Cover Picks are the few games I bet.

My track record starts with the 2026 season. Picks are posted before kickoff and graded once the game finishes.

Common questions

Who does the model project to win Notre Dame vs Michigan State?

Backdoor Cover’s model projects Notre Dame to win, with a 99% win probability.

What is the model’s predicted spread for Michigan State at Notre Dame?

The model projects Notre Dame -28.81 and the market has Notre Dame -29.5, a gap of 0.7 points.

What side does the model favor against the spread?

Michigan State +29.5, at the current number. Backdoor Cover Picks may still pass on this game.

How the model is doing. 113–101–1 against the spread (52.8%), 35–23 on totals (60.3%) and 166–49 straight up (77.2%) on every game this season.

Backdoor Cover Picks

Is Michigan State at Notre Dame one of my picks? Subscribers see whether I’m betting it, and if so the side, the line and a recommended unit size.

My track record is on the Track Record page.

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Season predictions: Michigan State and Notre Dame.

Published Sep 15, 2026. Numbers refreshed Sep 16, 2026.