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It’s the No. 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-1) remaining on the road, visiting the undefeated (5-0, 3-0 in ACC) and 25th-ranked Louisville Cardinals Saturday evening.
Game time at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium is 7:30 PM (ET).
Notre Dame is a touchdown favorite (total at 54½), according to college football odds.
Moneyline is Notre Dame -260, Louisville at +210.
The visitors come in with momentum after a huge, 21-14 comeback win at Duke last Saturday night. Audric Estime’s 30-yard rushing score with 31 seconds left was the winner.
Turnabout was fair play after the Irish lost to Ohio St. at home in the last second.
Louisville just recently moved into the rankings. The Cardinals have not faced a great schedule to this point, though that changes with Notre Dame in town.
Louisville blanked North Carolina St. in the second half last week, grinding out a 13-10 win,
It’s the fourth meeting between the schools (Notre Dame, 2-1).
If you think either side can essentially run the table, Notre Dame is 40-1 (+4000) to win the title, Louisville is 250-1 (+25000), as per college football championship odds.
Irish Stingy “D”
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish held an explosive Duke Blue Devil offense to just two touchdowns, and will be looking to throttle the Cardinals as well. Notre Dame is allowing just 294 yards/game (T-12th in nation) this season.
That’s not to suggest the Irish can’t move the ball, as a 442 yards/game average is 30th in the country. Quarterback Sam Hartman (1,458 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, no interceptions) has completed about two-thirds of his throws, with five receivers having caught at least 11 passes.
Running back Audric Estime, he of the aforementioned game-winner last week, is averaging 112 yards on the ground per game (7.1 yards/carry, seven touchdowns).
Marking the Cards
The Louisville Cardinals average close to 500 yards of offense (494.8, to be exact), with some of the same balance exhibited by their opponent.
However, quarterback Jack Plummer (1,406 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, six interceptions) can’t afford to be as haphazard with his throws against this defense.
Jamari Thrash (22 receptions, 444 yards, five touchdowns) is the favorite target of Plummer, while Jawhar Jordan’s 510 rushing yards (7.7 yards/carry, six touchdowns) leads the backs.
Louisville’s whipped everyone in its way to date, though no heavyweights. It needs a total team effort to win this game. Shutting down the run wouldn’t hurt.
Irish to Win
Louisville struggles to move the football against this tough Irish defense.
Notre Dame proved it can win a big game on the road, and the dream season ends as far as the Cardinals are concerned. They don’t have the weapons to keep it close.
Lay the seven points with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Go under, too.
