Duke vs. Notre Dame Prediction
Following a second loss in 2016, is Notre Dame set to take out its frustrations on Duke when they meet up in South Bend at 3:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Notre Dame is the favorite in this game, as the Fighting Irish are getting odds of -20.5 points against Duke today. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 60.5 points. These two last met back in 2007 with Notre Dame picking up a 28-7 win at home, covering a 7-point spread in the process.
A promising 2016 has already turned disappointing for Notre Dame following a 36-28 loss to Michigan State at home last week. The Irish are now 1-2 on the year and 1-2 against the spread. They are just 2-5 against the spread in their last 7 games overall. The big problem for Notre Dame has come on the defensive side of the ball. The Irish are giving up 32 points and 439 yards per game and that is including a 39-10 win over Nevada. The offense hasn’t been a problem, averaging 38 points and 429 yards per contest. DeShone Kizer has clearly settled into the starting QB position, as he has thrown for 715 yards and nine touchdowns while rushing for 126 yards and four more scores. The Irish also are getting over 300 yards on the ground from Josh Adams and Tarean Folston combined.
Duke fell to 1-2 on the season and 1-2 against the spread last week with a 24-13 loss at Northwestern. The Blue Devils have been held to just 27 total points in the last two games while allowing 24 to the Wildcats and Wake Forest each, two poor offenses. Duke is giving up just an average of 18 points and 302.3 yards per game on defense, but it hasn’t faced a real offensive team like the Irish yet. On offense, Duke is averaging 25.3 points and 433.3 yards per game, but those numbers are inflated by a 49-point performance against North Carolina Central to open the season. Daniel Jones has thrown for 800 yards to lead the Duke offense while Jela Duncan has run for 193 yards.
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Notre Dame needs an inspiring performance from its defense this week after it has been bashed for giving up so many yards to Michigan State last week at home. I would expect the Irish to be able to handle Duke, which doesn’t have a lot of offensive fire power. While the Blue Devils are putting up good numbers on defense, they have still allowed 24 points to weak offensive teams like Northwestern and Wake Forest. Kizer should have no problem leading this ND offense past Duke for a cover.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 4 PREDICTION: NOTRE DAME -20.5