Bodog Beat

Jimmy Clausen has his work cut out for him. (AP Images)

In a season where the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are trying to get back into the bowl picture, they get to play three games in a row against the slumping Big Ten. Michigan (-1) generously handed them six turnovers in last week’s 35-17 Irish win. What will Michigan State offer this Saturday?

A whole lot of Javon Ringer. The Spartans have 12 touchdowns this year, nine of them via Ringer on the ground. Notre Dame is ranked No. 77 in the FBS with 4.04 yards allowed per carry. That’s not a good matchup for the Irish, who are 8.5-point road dogs as a result.

The Spartans are only 6-15 ATS in their last 21 at home, but their more recent history of giving Ringer the ball is a lot more important to Saturday’s matchup. It minimizes those costly turnovers; they have four on the season compared to six for Notre Dame. I like MSU by double digits.