Wake Forest vs. Notre Dame Pick
Can No. 5 Notre Dame cover a two-touchdown spread at home when it takes on Wake Forest this afternoon at 3:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Notre Dame is favored, as the Fighting Irish are getting odds of -14.5 points against Wake Forest. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 55 points. Notre Dame has won three straight meetings with Wake Forest, but the Demon Deacons have covered the spread in two of the three games. The public is currently putting 80 percent of the wagers on Notre Dame at home. 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 a 35-14 win over N.C. State last week to improve to 7-1 on the season. The Fighting Irish are 7-1 against the spread this season, failing to cover in the lone loss to Georgia. ND is putting up an impressive 40.5 points and 468.4 yards per game. Their run game has been difficult to stop, as the Irish are averaging 317.9 yards per game on the ground. Josh Adams has 1,169 yards and nine touchdowns to lead the way while Brandon Wimbush has run for 529 yards and 11 scores. Wimbush also has thrown for 1,007 yards and 10 touchdowns with two interceptions. Defensively, Notre Dame is allowing just 16.1 points and 349.1 yards per game.
Wake Forest is coming off a 42-32 win at home over Louisville to improve to 5-3 on the season. The Demon Deacons are 5-2-1 against the spread this season, but just 2-2 ATS on the road. Wake Forest has a defense that is allowing just 21.3 points and 381.9 yards per game. However, their run defense is allowing 183.8 yards per game. Offensively, Wake Forest is putting up 31.3 points and 427.3 yards per contest. John Wolford has thrown for 1,660 yards and 15 touchdowns this season, but his leading receiver Greg Dortch is out for the year with an ab injury. Dortch had 53 catches for 722 yards and nine touchdowns. John Wolford is the leading rusher of the team with 341 yards and six touchdowns.
Bet on Wake Forest vs. Notre Dame
Notre Dame keeps easily covering spreads right now, as they have won their last six games by at least 20 points. Last week the Irish had no trouble moving the ball on N.C. State and now it faces a Wake Forest defense that has struggled to contain the run. The Deacons also are without a major piece on offense and facing an ND defense that has kept every opponent to 20 points or less. I think the Irish should easily cover this spread as long as they aren’t looking past Wake Forest.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: NOTRE DAME -14.5