Notre Dame vs. Northwestern Prediction
Will Northwestern be able to give No. 4 Notre Dame a game when the two teams meet up this evening at 7:15PM ET?
Game Snapshot & Odds
355 Notre Dame at 356 Northwestern
Saturday, November 3, 2018
7:15PM ET – Ryan Field
TV: ESPN
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Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, Notre Dame is favored on the road, as the Fighting Irish are getting odds of -9.5 points against Northwestern. The over/under total for the game is listed at 52 points. The public betting for this game currently has 58 percent going on Northwestern at home. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our College Football Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Wildcats heating up
The Northwestern Wildcats have won four straight games, including a 31-17 victory over Wisconsin last weekend. The Wildcats are now 5-3 on the season, 4-3-1 against the spread and 4-4 with the over/under total. The Cats are 3-1-1 against the spread in their last five.
The Wildcats are struggling on offense this year, averaging just 25.1 points and 371.3 yards per game. Their run game is a mess, averaging just 91.1 yards per contest as injuries have severely depleted their efforts. Clayton Thorson has done a lot despite the lack of a run game, throwing for 2,072 yards and 10 touchdowns, but he also has 10 interceptions. Flynn Nagel is his leading receiver with 59 catches for 711 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Northwestern is giving up 23.6 points and 366.8 yards per contest.
Irish still unbeaten
The Notre Dame football team is rolling along, coming off a 44-22 win at Navy last weekend to move to 8-0 on the season. The Fighting Irish are 5-3 against the spread and 4-4 with the over/under. ND has covered the spread in four of its last five games.
ND has a defense that has been locked in all season. The Irish are giving up just 19.1 points and 341.3 yards per game this year. Their run defense could be better, allowing nearly 150 yards per game, but their pass defense is top notch. Offensively, the Irish are putting up 34 points and 447.3 yards per game. Their rushing attack puts up nearly 190 yards per game. Ian Book has been a great addition to the offense. He has thrown for 1,481 yards and 13 touchdowns with just four interceptions. Miles Boykin has emerged as the top receiver with 36 catches for 570 yards and six touchdowns. Dexter Williams is the leading rusher with 512 yards and seven touchdowns.
College Football Betting Trends
Northwestern
Northwestern has covered the spread in five straight in November and the Wildcats are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four games on grass.
Notre Dame
Notre Dame has covered the spread in four straight road games, but is just 7-20 ATS in its last 27 November games.
Prediction:
The Irish haven’t been quite as dominant in recent weeks. ND had its struggles at home with Pitt and couldn’t quite pull away from Navy until the later stages of the game. Now it hits the road to face a game Northwestern team that is playing with a lot of confidence right now. The Wildcats should be up to the challenge on defense of stopping the Irish. The Wildcats have played to the level of their competition for most of this season and with the game being at night, I expect a lot of added momentum for the Wildcats. Look for this game to come down to the wire.
College Football Prediction: Northwestern +9.5
