Duke vs. Notre Dame Week 2 Prediction
Duke and Notre Dame will play their season-openers on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET. With the Fighting Irish laying over three touchdowns as a home favorite and the total sitting in the low 50s, what’s the best play for bettors in this matchup?
Game Snapshot
411 Duke Blue Devils (+20.5) at 412 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-20.5); o/u 52.5
2:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, September 12, 2020
NBC, Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
Duke Blue Devils Game Notes
Duke redshirt junior QB Chase Brice was named starter. One of the more low-key transfers over the winter, Brice might not have the name cache of a D’Eriq King, but the former Clemson signal-caller should bring a baseline level of competence to the field with the Blue Devils. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound redshirt junior was a consensus top-400 recruit in the 2017 class and while he never was able to take the reins as starting Clemson quarterback, he learned under one of the best coaching staffs in the country and alongside some of the sharpest signal-callers in the game. We’ll have our first chance to see Brice in his new duds when the Blue Devils take on Notre Dame this coming Saturday. This past weekend was a nice warmup with some fun Group of Five contests. The season is about to get real in the weeks ahead.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Game Notes
Notre Dame redshirt freshman RB Kyren Williams is listed as the started ahead of Saturday’s game vs. Duke. Williams (5’9/194), who rushed for 26 yards on four carries in four games last season, beat out more experienced options for the right to start the season opener. Juniors Jahmir Smith and C’Bo Flemister and senior Jafar Armstrong are listed as “or” options for third on the depth chart, with Williams and true freshman Chris Tyree occupying the first two spots. The Fighting Irish don’t lack for options at running back, but Williams performed well enough in preseason camp to earn the right to start.
Duke vs. Notre Dame Betting Prediction
Thus far, it looks like the defenses are a little ahead of the offenses in college football. Either that, or the offenses simply aren’t in sync yet and the defenses have the advantage. The under is 9-4 in the Blue Devils’ last 13 games as a road underdog, is 11-5 in the Fighting Irish’s last 16 games overall and is 4-1 in Notre Dame’s last five home games. I expect the Irish to keep the ball on the ground with Williams and for Duke to ease in new signal-caller Chase Brice. This should lead to a running clock and if Notre Dame’s defense is up to snuff, Duke won’t contribute enough offensively to push the score over this total.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 2 BETTING PREDICTION: DUKE/NOTRE DAME UNDER 52.5