No. 5 Notre Dame and Navy renew one of college football’s longest-running series on Saturday, with the Navy–Notre Dame rivalry moving to a neutral site in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Fighting Irish are 30.5-point favorites, up a full point from the opening number, and the total has climbed three points to 56.5. That is a big spread against an option offense that controls the clock. Below we break down both teams, the line movement, and our best bets against the spread and on the total.
Last Updated: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Notre Dame vs. Navy — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough MA |
| When | Saturday, October 31 – 12:00 PM ET |
| TV | ABC |
Notre Dame vs. Navy Betting Preview
Notre Dame enters at 6-1 and ranked fifth in the AP poll. The Irish are coming off a bye week, which followed their only loss of the season, a 28-24 defeat at BYU. Notre Dame plays as an FBS independent, so there are no conference standings on the line. Still, every result matters for a team chasing a College Football Playoff berth.
Quarterback CJ Carr has been efficient all season. According to CBS Sports, he has thrown for 1,639 yards with 16 touchdowns and just one interception. However, the BYU game was a rare off day, as Carr failed to account for a touchdown for the first time in his career.
The bigger concern for Notre Dame is health. Cornerback DJ McKinney (ankle) and safety Brauntae Johnson (foot) are out. Tight end Cooper Flanagan, linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, defensive lineman Loghan Thomas and cornerback Mark Zackery IV are all listed as questionable. Most of that attrition sits in the secondary, which matters less against a team that rarely throws.
Navy is 2-5 overall and competes in the American Athletic Conference. The Midshipmen run a run-heavy option attack behind quarterback Jackson Gutierrez, who is as dangerous on the ground as anyone in the country. In Navy’s 34-26 win over Tulsa, Gutierrez ran for 232 yards. He has also thrown seven touchdown passes against one interception. The problem has been defense, as Navy has struggled to get stops all season.
History favors the Irish. Notre Dame won last year’s meeting 49-10, and Navy has not beaten Notre Dame since 2016.
Notre Dame vs. Navy Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame | -30.5 (-112) | – | O 56.5 (-115) |
| Navy | +30.5 (-108) | – | U 56.5 (-105) |
Odds accurate as of Saturday, October 31, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NCAAF Odds – Futures – Props
Notre Dame vs. Navy — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Notre Dame | 49% | 51% | Navy |
See the latest College Football Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Notre Dame vs. Navy Prediction — Is Four-Plus Touchdowns Too Much to Ask?
The case for Notre Dame is easy to make. The Irish are the more talented team at nearly every position, and they had two weeks to prepare for a unique offense. Last year’s 39-point win shows how lopsided this matchup can get. Notre Dame is also 4-3 against the spread this season, while Navy is just 2-5 ATS. The market has leaned the same way, pushing the spread from 29.5 to 30.5 since it opened.
Still, covering a number this large requires sustained dominance, and the option makes that harder. Navy wants long, grinding drives that drain the clock and shorten the game. Fewer possessions mean fewer chances for Notre Dame to stack touchdowns. In addition, the Irish are thin in the secondary and may rest key players late if the game is in hand. A backdoor score from Navy’s offense would be enough to flip the result against the number.
The public split is close to even on the spread, so there is no strong contrarian signal here. Our lean comes down to game script. Gutierrez is in form, and Navy’s ground game should produce enough to stay inside four and a half touchdowns. The risk is clear: if Notre Dame scores early and often, this number can disappear quickly.
The Pick: Navy +30.5 (-108)
Notre Dame vs. Navy Prediction — Has the Total Climbed Too High?
The total opened at 53.5 and has risen to 56.5. That move suggests bettors expect Notre Dame’s offense to roll against a Navy defense that has been vulnerable. Gutierrez can also break long runs, and Navy has shown it can put up points. If the Irish score on most of their possessions, the over can cash without much help.
On the other hand, pace is the biggest factor in any game against the option. Navy keeps the ball on the ground, keeps the clock running and limits total possessions. Notre Dame’s defense has been one of the best in the country, and it had extra time to prepare for this scheme. After a three-point jump, the number now asks both teams to cooperate. We think the clock works in favor of the under.
The Pick: Under 56.5 (-105)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
Both of our picks tell the same story. Navy’s best path to staying competitive is controlling the ball, and that same game plan keeps scoring down. If Notre Dame forces quick stops and builds an early lead, both picks are in trouble. That correlation is worth keeping in mind when sizing positions.
There is no standout bonus angle in this game. The moneyline offers no practical value at these prices, and the injury list makes Notre Dame’s defensive depth harder to trust in a blowout. Our approach is to stick with the two core positions and keep stakes reasonable on a game with a spread this large.
Our picks for Notre Dame vs. Navy:
- Navy +30.5 (-108)
- Under 56.5 (-105)