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Tennessee football: Vols, SEC, Top 25 predictions for Week 1 of 2018

By Caleb Calhoun

CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 11: A general view of the stadium before the game between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 11, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 11: A general view of the stadium before the game between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 11, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images /

No. 14 Michigan Wolverines at No. 12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Saturday, Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m.; Notre Dame Stadium; Notre Dame, Ind.

TV: NBC; Line: Notre Dame -1; Over/Under: 47

Caleb Calhoun

The Vanderbilt-MTSU game is a great toss-up as a lower level SEC game. This is a great toss-up on a national scale. While Tennessee football enters a new era with Jeremy Pruitt, this game features two of the most storied programs with both having coaches whose seats are getting warmer. And the game has major College Football Playoff implications.

The major heat really turned up on Jim Harbaugh last year after a disappointing third year. Brian Kelly, meanwhile, rebounded. But he lost a decent amount of talent on offense. Michigan, meanwhile, returns pretty much everybody and finally has a quarterback in Shea Patterson. I’ve got them in my playoff as a result of that, and it starts with a win here. The Wolverines’ defense will shut down that Notre Dame offense, and Patterson will make just enough plays to win. But with both defenses highly experienced, take the under in this game.

Michigan: 21 Notre Dame: 17 (Michigan +1; Under)

Billy Williford

I can not go back on what I said about Washington and Auburn being the best game of the week. However, this game is just as appealing. Match-ups like this make you love college football even more. But to the game itself, Norte Dame an underdog at home. What? Better yet underdogs to a Michigan team that has not proved anything.

Okay, they have Shea Patterson now, but that is not a big deal. If anything that could hurt the Wolverines chances as he threw five interceptions to only two touchdowns against winning teams last year. I am banking on Patterson still not being the quarterback thinks he should be. Plus it is on the road. Take the Fighting Irish across the board.

Notre Dame: 24 Michigan: 21 (Notre Dame -1; Under)

Garrett Sanders

The long wait is over! Michigan and Notre Dame are finally back! This game has a lot at stake for both the Wolverines and the Fighting Irish. Can Jim Harbaugh finally get over the hump of not winning the big game? Notre Dame has a feeble passing Offense. That’s not very good news for the Fighting Irish. Michigan has one of the best passing Defense in the country. This is bad news for Notre Dame.

Although Notre Dame is mostly a team that pounds the rock, Michigan’s front seven is also not too bad either. With Shea Patterson coming to Ann Arbor, people would think the Wolverine’s Offense has improved. This is the perfect test to see whether if that theory is correct or not. We’ve seen what Shea Patterson has done in SEC Country, and this could be excellent news for Michigan fans. This is Michigan’s chance to prove they have a quarterback.

Michigan: 31 Notre Dame: 20 (Michigan +1; Over)

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