Navy vs. Notre Dame Pick
Can No. 9 Notre Dame bounce back on offense when it plays host to Navy on Saturday at 3:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Notre Dame is favored at home, as the Fighting Irish are getting odds of -17.5 points against Navy. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 59.5 points. Notre Dame has won five of its last six meetings with Navy and the two have hit the over in six of their last seven meetings. The public is currently putting 58 percent of the wagers on Navy on the road. Saturday’s game takes place from Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana. The contest will air live on NBC.
Navy is coming off a 43-40 win over SMU at home last week to improve to 6-3 on the season. The Midshipmen are 5-4 with the under this season but have hit the over in two straight. Navy is allowing 30.3 points and 410.1 yards per game this season. Offensively, Navy is putting up 33.7 points and 468.4 yards per contest. Navy has one of the top rushing attacks in the nation, averaging 369.8 yards per contest. Zach Abey has rushed for 1,202 yards and 13 touchdowns while throwing for 717 yards and six touchdowns. Malcomb Perry has added 736 rushing yards with seven touchdowns. However, Perry is questionable for this game with an ankle injury.
Notre Dame is coming off being thrashed by Miami last weekend, 41-8. Notre Dame has fallen to 8-2 with the loss. The Irish are 6-4 with the over this season, but 2-1 with the under in their last three games. ND is putting up 38 points and 471.8 yards per game this season behind 303.2 rushing yards per game. Josh Adams has run for 1,231 yards and nine touchdowns to lead the offense while Brandon Wimbush has run for 663 yards and 13 touchdowns. Wimbush has thrown for 1,406 yards and 12 touchdowns as well. Defensively, ND is allowing 20.7 points and 375.4 yards per game.
Oddsmakers expect plenty of points in this one. Notre Dame giving up 41 last week is probably part of the reason why. However, the Irish have been largely strong on defense this season, especially at home. Navy has a great ground attack, but the Irish play Navy enough where the option shouldn’t give them too many problems. I think the Irish will lock in defensively while still having a healthy offensive output. However, their offensive output won’t do enough to put the total at 60 points.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: NAVY/NOTRE DAME UNDER 59.5