While the Notre Dame football team is oozing confidence heading into the Sugar Bowl against the Georgia Bulldogs, Vegas is still not quite sure they can pick the Fighting Irish to overcome the SEC powerhouse. That’s even with starting quarterback Carson Beck not just out, but having completely departed the team.
As we roll into 2025 officially, the Irish are very slight underdogs, but when you consider that they are the No. 7 seed and are taking on the No. 2 seed, the point spread is actually pretty darn small.
As of New Year’s Eve and just two hours before New Years Day, the Notre Dame football team is a 1.5-point underdog to the … Dawgs. Considering how the Irish have had to work to prove people wrong all year, it’s safe to assume head coach Marcus Freeman and company are relishing the idea of proving Vegas wrong once again.
Notre Dame football still going against the odds in the Sugar Bowl
The Notre Dame football team has made a habit of defying expectations all season long, and their Sugar Bowl matchup against the Georgia Bulldogs is no exception. Despite being the No. 7 seed in the College Football Playoff and facing the No. 2 Bulldogs, the narrow 1.5-point spread suggests a level of respect Vegas hasn’t always shown the Fighting Irish. Even with Georgia missing their starting quarterback, Carson Beck, who has left the team entirely, the Bulldogs remain slight favorites.
This underdog narrative isn’t new for Marcus Freeman’s squad. Throughout the 2024 season, they’ve faced adversity and skepticism, using it as fuel to prove their doubters wrong. With a chance to knock off one of college football’s perennial powerhouses, the Irish are likely embracing the challenge.
Freeman’s team isn’t just playing for a spot in the national championship; they’re battling for validation on the biggest stage. A win here would cement Notre Dame football as more than just a playoff team—it would announce their arrival as true contenders in the Freeman era. As the clock strikes midnight and 2025 begins, the Irish will look to start the year by continuing their habit of beating the odds.