6. The X factor: It's difficult to choose which was more painful to witness: Greg Robinson's 10-37 record as head coach from 2005 to 2008 at Syracuse University -- including 3-25 in the Big East -- or the "Little Engine That Could" analogies he spewed at the time of his purging.

Make no mistake, though: Robinson's track record as a defensive coordinator is that of a "Big Engine That Does."

He coordinated two Super Bowl defenses with the Denver Broncos during a successful run in the NFL and helped Texas to an 11-1 mark in 2004 as its defensive coordinator.

Now in his first season as defensive coordinator at Michigan, Robinson will try to take the template he used in Syracuse's 24-23 upset at Notre Dame last November and apply it Saturday. That is, attempting to make the Irish offense one-dimensional. The Orange held the Irish to 41 yards on 28 carries -- a 1.6 average.

"He's not afraid to make changes from one week to the next week to put his team in the best position to win the game," Irish head coach Charlie Weis said of Robinson.

5. The surprise factor: Weis reiterated Thursday night that seldom-used senior Barry Gallup Jr. would fill in for the injured James Aldridge as a deep man on kickoff returns -- at least the first one.

Weis left the door open for wide receiver Golden Tate, or someone similarly electric, to replace Gallup on subsequent kickoff returns.

"Hopefully, there aren't a lot of kickoff returns for us," Weis concluded.

4. The non-surprise factor: Weis expects to see half of Michigan's freshman quarterback tag team -- namely Denard Robinson -- on the field with Tate Forcier at times Saturday, as a slot receiver. He also expects Michigan starting wide receiver Junior Hemingway -- listed as questionable (ankle) early in the week and downgraded to doubtful Thursday -- to play extensively.

3. The noise factor: Weis had Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen blaring at Thursday's practice, which at this point is probably more for his own enjoyment than to actually simulate decibel levels at Michigan Stadium. Poise is more critical for the Irish than noise anyway.

"I think the most important part of the game will be the early part of the game, to withstand the early flurry you get," Weis said. "Once you get through that initial rush, the game just kind of settles down."

2. Maize-and-Blue-and-Gray factor: Former Detroit Country Day star Jonas Gray is Notre Dame's second-string tailback and a close friend of a handful of Wolverine players.

Gray wasn't interested in getting into much trash-talking. He didn't see the point in that. He instead hoped to coax tangible information out of his friends, like injury reports.

"Hey, if I phrase it the right way, who knows?" he said.

1. The facade factor: This Notre Dame team is painted as the closest-knit group of Weis' five seasons in South Bend. On Michigan's side, the cracks inside that team that led to accusations of violating NCAA rules regarding the length of the work week seemed to be mended by the season-opening win against Western Michigan.

This rivalry has a way of exposing what's real and what's scripted.

Eric Hansen covers Notre Dame for ESPNChicago.com.

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