Stanford Cardinal at Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Saturday, 9/25/10, 3:30 PM EDT, TV: NBC
Opening Point Spread: Stanford -2.5
Current Betting Line: Stanford -4.5
Opening Total: 58
Current Total: 59
Current Moneyline: Stanford -190/Notre Dame +160
All odds taken from Bookmaker Sportsbook, the best site for internet wagering.
Stanford heads east to South Bend, Indiana to meet with the Fighting Irish for the 25th time on Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium. The Cardinal is coming off a 68-24 victory over Wake Forest on Saturday and are now poised to try and break a seven-game losing streak to the Irish in South Bend and given the squad its first 4-0 start since 1986. Over the first three games, the team is averaging 51.67 points per game, which ranks third nationally and the program’s highest three-game scoring total to start the season since 1923. Stanford has been particularly dangerous in the first 30 minutes, outscoring opponents by a 75-17 margin that is similar to the team’s 267-156 margin during the 2009 campaign. The Cardinal are 2-0 against the college football spreads in lined games this season and 17-10 ATS over the past three seasons overall.
The Cardinal have been led by quarterback Andrew Luck, who went 17 for 23 for 207 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s blowout of the Demon Deacons. “We’re coming along nicely,” Luck said. “But I don’t think anybody is satisfied.” He hasn’t had to do it all on his own, as the rushing game rolled to 303 yards on 38 carries against Wake Forest. On the other side of the ball, the team ranks first nationally in pass defense (90.00 ypg), sixth nationally in total defense (227.6 ypg) and 15th in scoring defense (13.67 ppg). Defensive line coach Randy Hart and special teams coordinator Brian Polian both served on Notre Dame’s coaching staff last season under head coach Charlie Weis. Stanford is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 September games and an even 2-2 ATS over the past three seasons as a road favorite of 3.5 to 7 points.
Notre Dame is looking to snap its 10-game overall losing streak to ranked opponents and a four-game slide against ranked foes in Notre Dame Stadium. The Fighting Irish are coming off an incredibly deflating 34-31 road defeat to Michigan State in overtime due to a fake field goal. “Guys are upset, obviously,” quarterback Dayne Crist said. “It’s a tough loss and guys are hurt by that, but we’ll give it time to get it out of our systems.” He threw for 369 yards and four touchdowns last week, but the defense ranks 102nd nationally in allowing 443.7 yards per game. The team is 11-15 ATS in lined games over the past three years and the total is 13-15 O/U in those contests.
The Fighting Irish hold a 17-7 all-time advantage in the series, including a 10-2 edge when the scene shifts to Notre Dame Stadium. New head coach Brian Kelly may gain confidence in knowing the program has won 11 of the last 15 games in the series by an average margin of 11.2 points per game. In those meetings, Notre Dame is averaging 31.6 points per game, while surrendering 20.4. Kelly led Cincinnati to the Sugar Bowl last year, but is having a difficult time turning around the program, which is 17-23 since the start of the 2007 season. The team hasn’t been a home underdog of 3.5 to 7 points over the last three seasons and is 5-1 ATS in the situation in its last six tries.
Bettors will take comfort in knowing the Cardinal are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a SU win of more than 20 points. Notre Dame is 5-15 ATS in their last 20 home games versus a team with a winning road record. Although the line has moved in this game from the opener of -2.5 to -4.5, Stanford is still the side we would take at this point. We do have 7 college football predictions on tap for our premium members this Saturday including a 20 unit game of the year. If you are betting college football this weekend, dont miss any of the strong plays we have going.
