Navy vs. Notre Dame Pick
Can No. 9 Notre Dame avoid a letdown performance against one of its annual rivals, Navy, when the two teams meet up today 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 58.5 points. Notre Dame has won five of its last six meetings with Navy, but the Midshipmen have covered in three of the last four encounters. The public is currently putting 55 percent of the wagers on Navy on the road. Today’s game takes place from Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana. The contest will air live on NBC.
Notre Dame is coming off being thrashed by Miami last weekend, 41-8. Notre Dame has fallen to 8-2 thanks to that loss and the Irish are now 7-3 against the spread after failing to cover in their last two games. ND is putting up 38 points and 471.8 yards per game this season on offense 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.
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 4-3-2 against the spread this season, going 1-2-2 ATS over their last five games. Navy is allowing 30.3 points and 410.1 yards per game this season on defense. 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 behind its triple option. 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 doubtful to play today due to an ankle injury.
Notre Dame bounced back in a big way after losing to Georgia when it defeated Boston College, another rival, 49-20 on the road. While the Irish looked terrible and Wimbush is still dealing with a little bit of a hand injury, I expect Notre Dame to get back to winning today. The Irish aren’t going to be caught off guard by the Navy offense since they see it regularly. The Irish should also have the rushing attack to give Navy fits. I look for the Irish to make a statement on the ground and roll to a big win.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: NOTRE DAME -17.5