Central Michigan at Notre Dame Week 3 College Football Matchup Central Michigan at Notre Dame Matchup - Week 3
Sat, Sep 16 2023 · Week 3 · 🏟 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN · Turf · 80,795 cap
Central Michigan✈ 149 miSame TZ
17 41
Final
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📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Central Michigan
11
Notre Dame
43
P&R Line Notre Dame -32
P&R Total O/U 53
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Notre Dame -34.5 · O/U 51.5
Matchup Prediction
Notre Dame has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Notre Dame entering this game.
Momentum Control
78.1%
Notre Dame wins
Strong
Game Control
76%
Notre Dame wins
Strong
Vegas Spread
Notre Dame -34.5
O/U 51.5
William Hill (New Jersey)
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → Notre Dame · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
Central Michigan 2023 Schedule
Central Michigan's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Fri 9/1Central Michigan at Michigan State+14.0L7–3145.0L7–31UN
Sat 9/9Central Michigan vs New Hampshire-7.0W45–4248.5W45–42ON
Sat 9/16Central Michigan at Notre Dame+34.5L17–4151.5L17–41OY
Sat 9/23Central Michigan at South Alabama+16.5W34–3046.5W34–30OY
Sat 9/30Central Michigan vs Eastern Michigan-9.5W26–2345.0W26–23ON
Sat 10/7Central Michigan at Buffalo-2.5L13–3751.5L13–37UN
Sat 10/14Central Michigan vs Akron-10.5W17–1044.0W17–10UN
Sat 10/21Central Michigan at Ball State-5.0L17–2442.0L17–24UN
— Bye Week —
Tue 10/31Central Michigan vs Northern Illinois+3.0W37–3148.0W37–31OY
Tue 11/7Central Michigan at Western Michigan+3.5L28–3857.5L28–38ON
Wed 11/15Central Michigan at Ohio+11.5L20–3448.5L20–34ON
Fri 11/24Central Michigan vs Toledo+12.5L17–3254.5L17–32UN
Notre Dame 2023 Schedule
Notre Dame's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/26Notre Dame vs Navy-20.5W42–349.0W42–3UY
Sat 9/2Notre Dame vs Tennessee State-48.5W56–355.0W56–3OY
Sat 9/9Notre Dame at NC State-7.0W45–2449.5W45–24OY
Sat 9/16Notre Dame vs Central Michigan-34.5W41–1751.5W41–17ON
Sat 9/23Notre Dame vs Ohio State+3.0L14–1755.5L14–17UY
Sat 9/30Notre Dame at Duke-5.5W21–1452.5W21–14UY
Sat 10/7Notre Dame at Louisville-6.5L20–3353.0L20–33UN
Sat 10/14Notre Dame vs USC-3.0W48–2061.0W48–20OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/28Notre Dame vs Pittsburgh-21.0W58–745.5W58–7OY
Sat 11/4Notre Dame at Clemson-3.0L23–3144.5L23–31ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/18Notre Dame vs Wake Forest-22.5W45–747.5W45–7OY
Sat 11/25Notre Dame at Stanford-26.0W56–2350.5W56–23OY
Fri 12/29Notre Dame vs Oregon State-5.5W40–840.5W40–8OY
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2023 season
Notre Dame PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ Notre Dame
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Notre Dame
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Notre Dame
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Central Michigan #83
+0.201
Notre Dame #8
+0.669
Notre Dame Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Central Michigan #108
+0.201
Notre Dame #8
+0.920
Notre Dame Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Central Michigan #119
0.135
Notre Dame #32
0.180
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Notre Dame Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Central Michigan #39
+7.167
Notre Dame #7
+9.302
Notre Dame Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Central Michigan #101
+0.741
Notre Dame #9
+0.947
Notre Dame Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Central Michigan #80
70.9
Notre Dame #61
70.5
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Notre Dame Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2023 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Notre Dame Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Central Michigan
-4.9
Notre Dame
28.3
Offense Rating
Central Michigan
15.1
Notre Dame
29.0
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Central Michigan
20.0
Notre Dame
0.0
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Notre Dame Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Central Michigan #99
0.00
Notre Dame #27
3.00
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Central Michigan #93
2.00
Notre Dame #4
0.00
Notre Dame +3.00
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 78.1% of games historically
Based on 2 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Notre Dame Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Central Michigan #1
43.4
Notre Dame #1
87.5
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Central Michigan #112
38.0
Notre Dame #7
5.0
Notre Dame +44.1
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 76% of games historically
Based on 3 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
Notre Dame
3 — 0 sequences
✓ Predicted correctly
GC Battle
Notre Dame
83.9 — 7.3 GC score
✓ Predicted correctly
Game Result
Notre Dame won by 24
✓ Model called it
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Notre Dame with a large edge. Historically, dominant teams like this are fully priced into the spread — the agreed-upon team covers just 50.2% of the time. The metrics predict game control better than they beat the number.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Central Michigan
Jim McElwain #1
25–23 (52%) · Yr 5 at school
OC Paul Petrino Yr 2 #1
DC Robb Akey Yr 3 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Notre Dame
Marcus Freeman #1
13–5 (72%) · Yr 2 at school
OC Gerad Parker Yr 1 #1
DC Al Golden Yr 2 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: CSS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: GS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself