Chippewas vs Fighting Irish preview: Notre Dame Favored Against Central Michigan

After Early Struggles in 2022, Notre Dame is Rolling Early in the 2023 Season

Notre Dame is eyeing its fourth 4-0 start in the last six seasons when they welcome Central Michigan to town. The Chippewas vs Fighting Irish preview lists Notre Dame as a 34.5-point favorite.

Will Notre Dame have one eye on the upcoming matchup with Ohio State?

Central Michigan is 1-12 in its last 13 games against teams from the Power-5 conferences. While Notre Dame is not a member of a Power-5 conference in football, it certainly is viewed as an elite program worthy of that status.

Notre Dame is certainly expected to win the game. However, can the Fighting Irish cover as huge favorites?

A quick peek at the NCAA football odds shows that Notre Dame (+2200) is ninth in the odds to win the national championship. Those odds have moved from +2800 since the beginning of the season.

Central Michigan began the season eighth in the odds to win the Mid-American Conference title.

Notre Dame moved up two spots to No. 9 in the Associated Press poll and remained 11th in the coaches’ poll.

When looking at the college football schedule, the degree of difficulty will change in a major way for Notre Dame next week when a top-10-ranked Ohio State team comes to South Bend.

Chippewas Are Huge Underdogs

Dating back to the 2018 season, Central Michigan has lost its last 14 games as a double-digit underdog. However, the Chippewas are 9-4-1 against the spread in those games. Keep those numbers in mind when it comes to the Chippewas vs Fighting Irish preview.

Central Michigan fell to Michigan State 31-7 on Sept. 1 as a 14-point underdog as Central Michigan was 3-for-16 on third downs and managed just 219 yards of total offense. Those were the fewest yards for the Chippewas since being limited to 58 yards in a 2019 loss to Wisconsin.

Hartman Getting Passing Grades

Not all the quarterbacks who found new homes via the transfer portal are thriving. Notre Dame’s Sam Hartman most certainly has been lighting it up for the Fighting Irish after a successful run at Wake Forest.

Hartman has completed 75% of his passes for 731 yards with 10 touchdowns and no interceptions. Only USC’s Caleb Williams, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, has a better pass efficiency rating than Hartman. Keep that in mind when it comes to the Chippewas vs Fighting Irish preview.

Three receivers and tight end Jaden Greathouse are already over 100 receiving yards this season as 12 different players have at least two catches for Notre Dame.

Last Meeting

Notre Dame and Central Michigan have never played.

The Fighting Irish are 6-0 against teams from the Mid-American Conference since 2010 and have been favored by at least 20 points in five of those games. That win streak was at risk back in 2021 before Notre Dame edged Toledo 32-29 as a 16.5-point favorite. One issue is that game was that the Fighting Irish were -2 in turnover margin and only averaged 3.4 yards per rushing attempt.

Four of those matchups against MAC programs went over the total.

What to Expect

Central Michigan is third in the MAC in rushing yards per game and will look to use the running game to limit the possessions of Notre Dame’s offense. That could be crucial since the Chippewas rank last in the MAC with an average of 7.26 yards allowed per play.

Notre Dame ranks seventh nationally in total defense and 20th in total offense.

When looking at NCAAF football scores, Notre Dame is 12-1 in its last 13 games when favored by at least 20 points, but is just 7-6 against the spread in those games.

After covering seven times in 13 games a season ago, the Fighting Irish is looking to cover in their fourth straight game this season.

Central Michigan has covered in just one of its last five road games. Central Michigan is 0-2 against the spread so far in 2023.

The total is set at 55 and that matches the highest number in a Notre Dame game dating back to the last 11 games.

Central Michigan has allowed touchdowns on all seven red-zone trips by the opposing team in the first two games of the season. Notre Dame has scored touchdowns on 10 of its drives that reached the red zone in its first three games.

Notre Dame running back Devyn Ford and tight end Ei Raridon are both questionable for the game.

For college football betting news, odds, analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

Get the feel of sports & betting with these other articles:

• LSU vs Mississippi State Preview: No. 14 Tigers in Dire Need of Win
• California-Davis vs Oregon State Odds: Does Oregon State Have a QB Gem In DJ Uiagalelei?
• Garrett Shrader Stats: Syracuse Quarterback Shines in Week 1
• Southern Mississippi vs Florida State Odds: No. 4 Seminoles Already Widening Gap as ACC Favorite
• Stanford vs USC Odds: Trojans’ Williams Keeps Bolstering Heisman Bid