Will the Michigan-Notre Dame NCAA Football Odds Rivalry Resume?

Posted by Daniel Strum on Monday,September 21, 2015 12:06, EDT in

For almost forty years, two of the most storied programs in college football history played every year as the University of Michigan and Notre Dame met annually between 1978 and 2014 for the joy of College Football betting fans. However, Notre Dame routed Michigan 31-0 in 2014 and then took advantage of an out clause to bring the rivalry to at least a temporary end.

An In Depth Analysis of the Wolverines vs Fighting Irish NCAA Football Odds Rivalry

Because of the Fighting Irish’s special relationship with the Atlantic Coast Conference, they have agreed to play five games against members of that conference each year even though they are not part of the conference in football. They are ACC members in other sports, though, much like their former arrangement with the Big East. Last Week, though, Fighting Irish coach Brian Kelly appeared on the Rich Eisen Show and indicated that he thinks the teams will face one another again, although he is not part of a conversation on the matter.

The Detroit Free Press reported last week that Jim Harbaugh, the new head coach at Michigan, is also open to starting the rivalry once again. Harbaugh, as a player, took part in the rivalry in 1985 and 1986 as the Wolverines’ starting quarterback. Right now, though, Michigan has plenty worry about. They opened the season with a tough loss at Utah and then came back to .500 with a home win against Oregon State. However, after a win over UNLV they prepare to enter a fairly tough Big Ten slate of opponents. Notre Dame (3-0) is trying their best to deal with the loss of Malik Zaire, their gifted quarterback who led the Irish to a dominating 38-3 win over the University of Texas in Week 1.

How Will The Fighting Irish Fare Without Zaire?

Zaire broke his ankle against Virginia in Week 2, sidelining him for the season. The Irish did come back to defeat Virginia and then held off a talented offensive team in Georgia Tech this week in convincing fashion. So while the Irish-Wolverines rivalry is important to fans, it’s far from the front burner for either of these coaches. Expect to hear more in the offseason about this story.