Brian Kelly enters his ninth season at Notre Dame in 2018. Simultaneously he faces increasing doubts about his coaching. Although the Fighting Irish improved last year frustration remains. For one thing it’s been 30 years since their last national championship. Moreover, Kelly’s program shows no signs of being close to the summit. Sure, Notre Dame made the championship game in 2012. However, they were destroyed by Alabama in a stark reality check. Of major concern is that they haven’t been close to getting back. Correspondingly they are long shots with the college football betting odds.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish College Football Futures
Date and Time: Season Starts September 1, 2018
Location: Check Schedules
College Football Betting Online Odds at SBG: Notre Dame +5000 to win National Championship
Notre Dame Fighting Irish TV Coverage: Check Listings
Brian Kelly
Certainly the 2012 season was Brian Kelly’s high-water mark. Also adding to the fakeness of that run was trouble. Indeed, Notre Dame ended up vacating most of their wins from that season. Naturally that has added to the growing discontent. Supplementing the angst is that Kelly has not posted a top ten finish outside of that tarnished season. These problems with the college football betting odds are not all his fault. For one thing Notre Dame will not lower academic standards. In contrast to other programs their players live with regular students. Likewise, they take a full course load.
Unrealistic Demands for Coach
Most of all, a Notre Dame coach faces unrealistic demands. When Lou Holtz won the 1988 title there he was given concessions. Especially relevant was that academic requirements were lowered. Holtz departed when that stopped. By reason of this stubbornness the program can’t make the top tier. Yet because of their storied history fans are deluded. Owing to the past are demands not in sync with today’s realities. Kelly does bring in his share of quality talent. Still it is nowhere near the levels of perennial powers like Alabama. Furthermore, the program always plays a tough schedule.
Impressive Performance
In spite of these challenges Notre Dame was impressive most of last year. For example, they were undefeated in mid-November. Moreover, they looked the part of an actual championship contender. In comparison to the 2012 team they seemed to have substance. But then they were choked by Miami’s turnover chain. The Irish were throttled in a 41-8 Sports betting loss. As a consequence, Notre Dame was knocked out of the playoff chase.
Rebuilding Offense
Another bad November reminded everyone of another Kelly weakness. His teams fade badly down the stretch. As an example, Notre Dame has lost their last five regular season finales. Equally important is a 9-12 mark in November the past five seasons. So too does this bring to light Kelly’s combustible ways. His hair trigger temper wears on players and coaches. It follows that players tune him out late in the year. Now Kelly must rebuild his offensive line. Quarterback Brandon Wimbush is solid. Balanced against that is he is not a bomber.
Matchup to Watch
Indeed, the schedule will again be brutal. In view of that the Irish are not a college football betting odds favorite. Supplementing the underdog role is reality. Notre Dame is stuck in the past.
College Football Betting Odds Picks
This should be an 8-4 type of season in South Bend
College Football Betting Online Pick: Notre Dame to win eight games.