The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Miami Hurricanes will be playing for more than just a NCAA football betting spread, something at which the former is more adept than the latter. There could be a spot in the College Football Playoff at stake for either the No. 3 Universitas Dominae Nostrae a Lacu or the No. 7 Universitas Miamiensis. It may not live up to the infamous 1988 Catholics vs. Convicts game, but then again, few things do.
- Date: November 11th.
- Time: 8:05 PM
- Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
- Online Sportsbook Vegas odds College Football Betting:
Notre Dame -3 (-110) 57½ (-110) -150
Miami Florida +3 (-110) 57½ (-110) +130
The importance of covering
The Irish won their seven straight game outright, 48-37 over Wake Forest on Saturday, but they had a six-game ATS streak snapped, and the lesson, was, hopefully, not lost on Notre Dame. “Obviously we won and we’re excited for that,” linebacker Drue Tranquill said. “Thankful for the opportunity we had to get humbled defensively. It’s not the way we wanted to play, but we’ll learn from it moving forward.” Our Lady of the Lake allowed the Demonic Deacons season highs in points, yards, 20-yard runs, and rushing TDs; 37, 587, five, and three, respectively. The offense, on the other hand, gained 710 yards on WFU, including Chase Claypool’s 180 receiving yards on nine receptions. Notre Dame has had Miami’s number recently, going 3-0 SU and ATS in their last three meetings. The Irish are, additionally, 6-1 ATS in their last seven non-conference games, 6-1 ATS in their last seven overall, 4-1 ATS in their last five on the road, and 1-4 ATS in their last five in November, while Miami is 7-0 ATS in their last seven in November, 6-1 ATS in the last seven after an ATS win, 5-2 ATS versus a school with a winning record, and 0-6 against the NCAA football betting spread in their last six playing independents.
Miami’s biggest game since the last biggest game
This Saturday’s game could be the Hurricanes’ biggest home game in their 82-year history, and it could also be their biggest home win since winning the national championship in the 1991 Orange Bowl, but for that to happen they have to beat Notre Dame, and in order to beat Notre Dame, they have to stop the Irish’s seemingly unstoppable running game. The Irish have eight different players averaging at least six yards per carry, including Heisman candidate Josh Adams, who has already amassed 1000 yards this season. Furthermore, Notre Dame rushed for 515 yards in its 49-20 win over Boston College in September, third-most since 1969, when the Fighting Irish established set a modern-day school record of 597 yards against Navy. Miami’s defense has done its share to keep the ‘Canes undefeated this season, as well as keep the NCAA football betting total under in seven of their eight games, including the last six straight, and if the Notre Dame game turns out not be Miami’s biggest ever, at least it will be the defense’s biggest challenge yet.
No. 7 Miami's defense knows what its up against when it comes No. 3 Notre Dame's running game. https://t.co/kEquhEScOf
— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) November 9, 2017