Quick Hits: Notre Dame 13 Michigan 6

Manti Te'o and the Irish defense are becoming a force to be reckoned with. (US Presswire)

NOTRE DAME WON. The Irish are proving to be quite adept at winning ugly football games here in the 2012 season. After a 20-3 win over Michigan State last week the Irish were finally able to pick up a win against Denard Robinson and the Wolverines, winning 13-6 in South Bend.

The game featured 8 turnovers, 1 touchdown, and 538 yards between both teams. The good news for Notre Dame was that Michigan was responsible for 6 of the turnovers, with Robinson throwing four interceptions and fumbling once. The problem with that is Notre Dame was still only able to put 13 points on the board.

Also problematic for the Irish is the fact that Tommy Rees replaced an ineffective Everett Golson in the second quarter, and played rather well, completing 8 of 11 passes for 115 yards. Still, if Michigan had been able to take care of the ball, you can't help but think the outcome of this game would have been a lot different.

WHY NOTRE DAME WON: Again, the six Michigan turnovers had a lot to do with it, but the Notre Dame defense deserves a lot of the credit for causing them. The Irish defense was able to get pressure on Robinson in the pocket and force him into making throws he wasn't quite ready to make.

WHEN NOTRE DAME WON: Facing a third and six in the final minutes Tommy Rees found a wide open Tyler Eifert along the Notre Dame sideline for a 38-yard gain. It was Eifert's first grab of the game and it allowed the Irish to run out the rest of the clock.

WHAT NOTRE DAME WON: While it hasn't been pretty, it's somewhat hard to ignore what the Irish are doing so far in 2012. They're 4-0 for the first time since 2002 and have beaten both Michigan State and Michigan in the same season for the first time since 2004.

WHAT MICHIGAN LOST: The magic of Denard Robinson against Notre Dame is gone, but really so is Robinson's aura in general. Denard has faced two solid defenses so far in 2012 -- Alabama and Notre Dame -- and in those two games he's 24-for-50 for 338 yards, 1 touchdown and 6 interceptions. He's also only managed to rush for 117 yards and a score in those two games. Not terrible numbers outside the turnovers, but not exactly what we've come to expect from Robinson.

THAT WAS CRAZY: Michigan threw 5 interceptions on Saturday night and they came on five consecutive passes.