Everything is on the line for No. 16 Notre Dame (-6.5) when the Irish host No. 17 Louisville in Week 5. Saturday's meeting is the first and one of two-ranked meetings standing in Marcus Freeman's way and the College Football Playoff. With an easier schedule and having already suffered a massive upset, this is a must-win for the committee to take Notre Dame seriously.
But, it's been three-straight weeks of me holding by breath watching the Irish play sloppy football. I don't like their chances here and I'm definitely not taking them by a score. Instead, I'm riding with the UNDER at 47.5-points.
louisville vs notre dame Odds
Matchup Page: Louisville vs Notre Dame, 3:30 pm ET
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville Cardinals | +6.5 (-115) | +176 | OVER 47.5 (-105) |
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish | -6.5 (-105) | -215 | UNDER 47.5 (-115) |
Odds as of September 24 at FanDuel
louisville vs notre dame Picks – Week 5
It's truly a frustrating task to watch Notre Dame football, which trailed Miami (OH) at one point in Week 4. Fumbling the ball twice and two scary low snaps on offense in their last outing, it's obvious the Irish aren't looking cohesive.
Riley Leonard can't throw the ball, earning his only passing touchdown last week. Though, it was an eight-yard toss so nothing too exciting. The senior can run, recording six rushing touchdowns. But, after two ankle surgeries, you can tell that rushing isn't always his first instinct.
With the help of Leonard, the Irish can find faith in their ground attack, averaging 238.3 YPG (ranked 10th). But, it's getting predictable and Louisville allows just 114 YPG on the ground.
Notre Dame is looking one dimensional. Each team sits in the top 25 for scoring defense. It's a recipe for an UNDER.
Louisville vs Notre Dame Week 5 Pick: UNDER 47.5 Points (-115)
*pick made as of Tuesday, September 24 at 4:30 pm ET
Louisville vs Notre Dame News
An already bleak offense got even more dull. After reaching for an overthrown football, TE Cooper Flanagan suffered an ankle injury in Week 4. The sophomore rushed 53 yards, including snagging a touchdown in the bounce-back win over Purdue, across his two full performances this season.
Louisville vs Notre Dame Prop Bet: Riley leonard UNDER 169.5 Passing Yards (-114)
Did I mention Leonard either can't or just chooses not to throw the ball? Believe it or not, Leonard hasn't surpassed 163 passing yards yet this season. In fact, he's averaging 146.7 passing yards per game through four performances this year. In this must-win, I'd expect the 6-foot-4 quarterback to rely on his feet to get crucial points and yardage in this matchup.
Louisville vs Notre Dame Betting Trends
- Notre Dame is 6-3 (66.7%) ATS its last 9 games as a favorite
- Notre Dame is 0-4 ATS in its last four regular season meetings vs Louisville
- The UNDER has hit in three of Notre Dame's four meetings this year
