Notre Dame vs. Wake Forest Total Pick
Can No. 5 Notre Dame pile up another big point total when the Irish host Wake Forest on Saturday at 3:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Notre Dame is favored, as the Fighting Irish are getting odds of -14 points against Wake Forest. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 55.5 points. Notre Dame has won three straight meetings with Wake Forest and the two have hit the under in their last three encounters as well. The public is currently putting 79 percent of the wagers on Notre Dame at home. Saturday’s game takes place from Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana. The contest will air live on NBC.
Wake Forest is coming off a 42-32 win at home over Louisville to improve to 5-3 on the season. The Demon Deacons are also 4-4 with the over/under total this year, going 3-1 with the under on the road. Wake Forest has a defense that is allowing just 21.3 points and 381.9 yards per game. However, their run defense is allowing 183.8 yards per game. Offensively, Wake Forest is putting up 31.3 points and 427.3 yards per contest. John Wolford has thrown for 1,660 yards and 15 touchdowns this season, but his leading receiver Greg Dortch is out for the year with an ab injury. Dortch had 53 catches for 722 yards and nine touchdowns. John Wolford is the leading rusher of the team with 341 yards and six touchdowns.
Notre Dame is coming off a 35-14 win over N.C. State last week to improve to 7-1 on the season. The Fighting Irish are 5-3 with the over this season and 3-2 with the over at home. ND is putting up an impressive 40.5 points and 468.4 yards per game. Their run game has been difficult to stop, as the Irish are averaging 317.9 yards per game on the ground. Josh Adams has 1,169 yards and nine touchdowns to lead the way while Brandon Wimbush has run for 529 yards and 11 scores. Wimbush also has thrown for 1,007 yards and 10 touchdowns with two interceptions. Defensively, Notre Dame is allowing just 16.1 points and 349.1 yards per game.
Bet on Wake Forest vs. Notre Dame
Wake Forest has been a tougher opponent than some expected this year, but I think the Demon Deacons will find themselves struggling this week. Notre Dame has held tougher offenses in check and Wake is without its top skill player in Dortch. I see the Irish running the ball just find on Wake Forest, but that is likely to eat up some time and keep the overall total low. I don’t see the Deacons putting up many points.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: WAKE FOREST/NOTRE DAME UNDER 55.5