Notre Dame at Louisville 9/2/19 - College Football Betting Picks & Odds
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Louisville Cardinals
CFB: 8:00 PM EST
Sep. 02, 2019
TV: ESPN
Latest Odds : ND -20 Total 54.5
On Monday, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish visit Papa John’s Cardinals Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky to play the Louisville Cardinals in the opening game of the college football regular season.
The Fighting Irish were 12-1 in 2018 and reached the College Football Playoff where they were routed by Clemson 30-3. Ian Book returns as the starting quarterback, while Jafar Armstrong will be the feature back. The Irish have to replace two of their top four receivers of last season but Chase Claypool will be Book’s number one target. The offensive line has big talent including 6-foot-6 319-pound Tommy Kraemer at guard, On defense, the linebackers lost two top players and the line must make up for the loss of Jerry Tillery. The secondary will be strong led by Troy Pride at cornerback.
Louisville had a season to forget in 2018 finishing 2-10 and failing to win any of eight games in the ACC. Malik Cunningham may not be the best quarterback Louisville has but due to his athleticism he is needed on the field. Hassan Hall will start at running back and share time with Colin Wilson. The top receivers are Cheatarius Atwell and Dez Fitzpatrick. The offensive line was atrocious last season, but three starters with more experience return and Mekhi Becton at tackle will be an NFL All-Pro one day. The defense has nine of 11 top tacklers back but was one of the nation’s worst in 2018.
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Notre Dame starting quarterback Ian Book threw for 2,628 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The top running back returning in 2019 is Jafar Armstrong who rushed for 383 yards and seven touchdowns in 2018. Chase Claypool leads a group of returning receivers. Claypool caught 50 passes for 639 yards and four touchdowns in 2018.
Malik Cunningham passed for 473 yards, one touchdown and one interception last season and led the Cardinals in rushing with 497 yards and five touchdowns. The top returning running back will be Hassan Hall who rushed for 303 yards and three touchdowns last season. Dez Fitzpatrick leads all returning receivers after catching 31 passes for 422 yards and three touchdowns in 2018.
Recent Betting Trends:
Notre Dame is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 played in September
The UNDER has cashed in 7 of the Fighting Irish last 10 on fieldturf
Louisville is 3-13 ATS in its last 16 at home
The OVER has cashed in 7 of the Cardinals last 8
Free Betting Pick: Notre Dame Fighting Irish -20
Notre Dame is expected to have another strong team that will contend for one of the four spots in the College Football Playoff. Ian Book is one of the nation’s top quarterbacks and will shred Louisville’s porous defensive secondary. The Cardinals will have a tough time matching their two wins of 2018 as their defense is not any better than last season when it was one of the nation’s worst. Final Score Prediction, Notre Dame Fighting Irish win and cover ATS 38-13