If we're basing our expectations for this season off of last year's results (and we mostly are), looking at 2017 in hindsight, Notre Dame lost to the teams they were expected to lose to, and beat the teams they were expected to beat. The same is true for Michigan, except perhaps in their bowl game. Each had performances that raised eyebrows, even in hindsight. The Irish crushed USC, took eventual runner-up Georgia to the wire, and handled MSU without difficulty...but they squeaked by Navy and Wake Forest and were embarrassed in Miami. Michigan had fewer highs and lows. They were smoked by Penn State and needed OT to get past Indiana. The biggest question mark on their schedule remains their bowl loss.
Both were good, but neither team was a world beater last season. Michigan appeared to have the better defense, but when playing the top teams, it cracked. Notre Dame's defense didn't do as well under the eye test, but the Irish beat better teams than Michigan did (USC and LSU). And against their only common opponent, Michigan lost at home to MSU, and the Irish crushed MSU in East Lansing.
With graduation, recruiting, and a summer to think about it--as well as playing a tough, emotional game to start the season, it's hard to do much more than react to last season and hope the ball bounces the way you want it to.
Because I want the ball to bounce ND's way, I'll point out that Notre Dame appears to be coming off a better season than Michigan preparing for the big game, i.e., the bowl game, ND got it done, Michigan did not. Since this is game one against an old and hated rival, this feels kind of like a bowl game. So I like that. I also like that it's at Notre Dame.
But if I were a Michigan fan, I would point out Michigan's defense and Notre Dame's less predictable tendencies.
Notre Dame 13, Michigan 10.