After a win against Louisville in week one, the Fighting Irish had a bye and will be playing New Mexico, also coming off a bye, in South Bend for week 3. Notre Dame started the season going blow for blow against Louisville in the first quarter but then finally took control of the game and held the Cardinals to 3 points while adding on three touchdowns of their own. The final score ended in the Fighting Irish’s favor resulting in a 35-17 victory, but it wasn’t pretty. Ian Book and his receivers will need to get on the same page if Notre Dame wants to put up a fight in Athens next week.
This Week’s Betting Lines
- Opening Lines: Notre Dame -37 o/u 59 (Action Network)
- Current: Notre Dame -35 o/u 64 (Action Network)
New Mexico Lobos
The Fighting Irish will be taking on the Lobos without their head coach Bob Davie who was hospitalized after their first game. The Lobos beat Sam Houston State 39-31 in week 1. They used both their quarterbacks, which we could expect to see this weekend with their acting head coach Saga Tuitele calling the plays. Expect New Mexico to keep the ball on the ground with Ahmari Davis at the beginning of the game. Then they will look to air it out once Notre Dame starts to pull away on the scoreboard.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
South Bend should expect their team to come out hot as they kick off their home opener against New Mexico. Since Jafar Armstrong is battling a groin injury, expect to see Tony Jones Jr. keep the drives moving in the first half on the ground. Ian Book and his receivers should have a field day against this defense who let up 443 yards in the air and a total of 558 yards against Sam Houston State in week 1. The Fighting Irish will put this game away in the first half and look to stay healthy as they go into Athens next week.
Past Results
In the game against Louisville that was 21-14 at the half and ended 35-17, Louisville covered both the 1st half (+10.5) and full game spread (+19). This game started as a shootout and the first half over hit (27.5), but then after some halftime adjustments, the Notre Dame defense slowed down the scoring, only allowing 3 points which allowed the game under (55) to hit.
A few player props that should be interesting to look at for this week is the amount completions for Ian Book and the number of rushing yards for Tony Jones Jr. In week one, the over-under for Ian Book completions was set at 22.5. Book only attempted 23 passes and completed 14 of them. Meanwhile, Tony Jones Jr. rushing yards over under was set 67.5 which he surpassed in the first quarter.
Bet of the Week: (Notre Dame First Half -21.5)
I am expecting this game to only be played in the first half and then have Notre Dame take their foot off the gas in the second to try and stay healthy for Georgia and not beat up on a team that has their head coach out due to health reasons. The first half lines are Notre Dame (-21.5) and the over-under at 36 as of right now. My bet of the week is to take the Fighting Irish coming out hot in their home opener and to cover the 21.5 point spread. The only way I wouldn’t touch that is if the spread for the first half gets to 24.5 or more.
Follow me on Twitter @PeterCarlay to see if there are any other bets I like before the game starts.
