Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin Prediction
Will FOX’s premium game between No. 12 Notre Dame and No. 18 Wisconsin turn into a defensive slugfest from Soldier Field in Chicago, IL on Saturday?
Game Snapshot
317 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+6.5) at 318 Wisconsin Badgers (-6.5); o/u 45
12:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, September 25, 2021
Solider Field, Chicago, IL
TV: FOX
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Game Notes
Notre Dame graduate transfer QB Jack Coan completed 15-of-30 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns in 27-13 win over Purdue. It was a defensive battle on both side of the ball in this one, as Coan threw for two touchdowns on the day while completing only 50% of his passes. His first touchdown pass came on a 39-yard score to running back Kyren Williams when Williams turned what would have been a three-yard reception into a long score. In the third quarter, Coan found wide receiver Avery Davis down the seam for a 62-yard score as Davis simply out ran Purdue’s defense into the end zone. Now sitting at 3-0, Notre Dame travels to Wisconsin next week for a highly-anticipated matchup against the Badgers.
Wisconsin Badgers Game Notes
Wisconsin sophomore QB Graham Mertz completed 13-of-16 passes for 123 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in Wisconsin’s 34-7 win over Eastern Michigan. Graham Mertz (6’3/215) was hardly asked to do anything as evidenced by his stat line as Wisconsin completely dominated the line of scrimmage. Wisconsin played their normal game, running it down Eastern Michigan’s throats time and time again with little to no resistance. Mertz mostly made easy completions, but had a few nice throws here and there. Mertz didn’t throw a pass in Wisconsin’s first two drives, which was pretty much how the whole game went. Mertz briefly sat before backup Chase Wolf threw a 98 yard pick six. It would’ve been nice to see Mertz air it out a bit and regain confidence after his rough performance against Penn State, but head coach Paul Chryst didn’t feel the same. Mertz will no doubt need to be much more involved when Wisconsin takes on Notre Dame two weeks from now, but he and Wisconsin will have a bye week to prepare.
Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin Betting Prediction
The under is 6-2 in the Fighting Irish’s last eight games as an underdog, is 5-0 in their last five neutral site games and is 4-0 in their last four neutral site games as an underdog. On the other side, the under is 6-1 in the Badgers’ last seven games, is 6-1 in their last seven games as a favorite and is 4-0 in their last four games when facing an opponent with a winning record.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 4 PREDICTION: NOTRE DAME/WISCONSIN UNDER 45
