One of this week’s biggest college football matchups sees undefeated No. 15 Louisville (3-0) taking on No. 16 Notre Dame (3-1) in South Bend on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 3:30 p.m. ET.
The Cardinals haven’t played too many tough opponents, but they picked up an impressive victory over Georgia Tech this past week, 31-19. Meanwhile, the Irish have looked solid since being upset by Northern Illinois in Week 2, outscoring Purdue and Miami (OH) 94-10.
Louisville defeated Notre Dame this past season, but can it bring down the Fighting Irish once more? Here are the latest Louisville vs Notre Dame odds, plus my prediction and best bets for this Top-25 matchup.
Louisville vs Notre Dame Odds
College football odds are current as of Monday, Sept. 23, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Louisville (+205) vs Notre Dame (-250)
- Spread: Louisville +6 (-108) vs Notre Dame -6 (-112)
- Over/Under: Over 48 (-110) / Under 48 (-110)
Louisville vs Notre Dame Prediction
Notre Dame 24, Louisville 19
Notre Dame’s ability to run the football may be the team’s greatest asset. The Irish have averaged over 238 rushing yards per game through their first four contests, including a 362-yard performance in their win over Purdue.
RBs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price have been efficient, logging 7.4 yards per carry, and QB Riley Leonard has also notched six touchdowns and 322 yards on 46 attempts (7.0 YPC). Where Leonard and the Irish have struggled, though, is through the air — he has just one passing touchdown all year.
Louisville’s defense has been staunch in both regards, limiting opponents to 181.3 passing yards and 87.3 rushing (2.5 YPC) through its first three games. With that said, this will be the Cardinals’ most difficult test thus far, and by a significant margin.
Louisville will also need to navigate a Notre Dame defense that has yet to give up more than 16 points in a game all season. The Irish are winning the battle at the line of scrimmage, and defensive backs Benjamin Morrison and Xavier Watts have been as dominant as expected.
If Notre Dame can successfully move the ball in more ways than one, it should win this game. This offense is most effective when Leonard is a threat both in and out of the pocket, and the Cardinals could have trouble keeping pace against such a disruptive defense.
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Louisville vs Notre Dame Best Bets
Louisville +6 (-108) @ Notre Dame
Through four weeks of college football, only 15 teams remain perfect against the spread — and Louisville is one of them. The Cardinals are also covering by an average margin of +10.3 points per game, ranking in the upper class of all programs.
The biggest reason why I like Louisville to cover, though, has to do with Notre Dame’s offense. This team can be far too one-dimensional at times, and if the Cardinals can shut the Irish down either through the air or on the ground, they could struggle to sustain drives.
I’m expecting a tight, low-scoring game, and that plays into Louisville’s favor with this bet. Back the Cardinals to cover as 6-point underdogs with your college football bet of the day.
Under 48 Points (-110)
Even if Notre Dame struggles to get going on offense, I could see this team having a strong showing on defense. The Irish have allowed just 9.8 points per game through four weeks — good for No. 10 in the nation — and their experience on that side of the ball is a big reason why they’re 3-1.
Notre Dame has only played one game that’s exceeded this 48-point total all year, and Louisville’s offense will regress against one of the country’s top defenses. The Under is the best bet here.
