Notre Dame Football Favored In 5 of 8 Betting Lines By Golden Nugget
By Andrew Hall
For the ninth straight year, Golden Nugget has published the first betting lines for the upcoming season of College Football. Eight Notre Dame Football games were featured in the sportsbook’s initial lines.
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Texas at Notre Dame – September 5th (Line: Notre Dame by 7.5)
Texas arrives in South Bend as a talent, young and experienced team. The biggest difference between the Irish and Longhorns is the Quarterback position. Notre Dame is settled and confident in Redshirt Sophomore Quarterback Malik Zaire following the transfer of Everett Golson. Texas Head Coach Charlie Strong is still debating between Junior Tyrone Swoopes and Redshirt Freshman Jerrod Heard. If this game was played in November, the Longhorns were be a much more polished product. The uncertainty and inexperience gives Notre Dame the upper hand.
Notre Dame at Virginia – September 12th (Line: Notre Dame by 9)
Notre Dame travels to Charlottesville, Virginia to take on the Cavaliers for the first time since 1989. In that matchup, the Irish defeated Virginia, 36-13. The Cavaliers talent level has been upgrade since Head Coach Mike London took over the program in 2010. However, the level of talent should be no much for a Notre Dame squad that is as talented as the 1993 unit that went 11-1 and was arguably that season’s National Champion.
Georgia Tech at Notre Dame – September 19th (Line: Notre Dame by 2)
Any Notre Dame fan knows that the Irish have struggled with the triple option since Brian Kelly took over in 2010. Paul Johnson’s Georgia Tech squad is basically the Naval Academy with bigger, stronger and faster athletes. This will be Notre Dame’s toughest September test. Hopefully, former Assistant and new analyst Bob Elliot has discovered the Rosetta Stone of stopping the triple option.
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Notre Dame at Clemson – October 3rd (Line: Clemson by 3.5)
The Fighting Irish will arrive in a hostile atmosphere as the Tigers run down the hill and touch Howard’s Rock. Reading between the lines of the oddsmakers, it would appear that Vegas believes Clemson and Notre Dame are about the same football team. However, with the game being played in Clemson, South Carolina and most likely at night, the Tigers have the slight edge.
Navy at Notre Dame – October 10th (Line: Notre Dame by 14)
The last two meetings between the Midshipmen and the Irish have been decided by an average of 7 points. However, the previous two games were victories by an average of 41 points. A Navy-Notre Dame matchup usually goes one of two ways: a close game or a Notre Dame blowout. This year is not different than any other.
USC at Notre Dame – October 17th (Line: Pick ’em)
USC and Notre Dame may enter this matchup as undefeated teams vying for position in the College Football Playoff. The Trojans are probably the most talented team on Notre Dame’s schedule. The Irish will look to avenge the 49-14 shellacking at the hands of USC.
Notre Dame at Pittsburgh – November 7th (Line: Notre Dame by 3)
Pittsburgh always plays Notre Dame very close. The Panthers defeated the Irish in their last matchup, 28-21. They also took the Irish to 3 overtimes in their famous matchup in 2012. In 2011, Notre Dame barely squeaked by Pittsburgh with a 15-12 victory. In Kelly’s inaugural season, the Irish won 23-17. The Panthers may be building a program with new Head Coach Pat Narduzzi but they will give Notre Dame a tough November test.
Notre Dame at Stanford – November 28th (Line: Stanford by 3)
Everett Golson’s pass to Ben Koyack on 4th and 11 helped Notre Dame defeat the Cardinal in 2014. Both Golson and Koyack are no longer on Notre Dame’s roster. Again, Stanford will feature an excellent Offensive Line and experienced Defense. However, Notre Dame’s overall talent should be able to overwhelm the Cardinal if they take care of the football and execute. This feels more like a Notre Dame by 3 than Stanford by 3. But, obviously, they are sharks.