Notre Dame’s early line against Miami says the panic in South Bend may be a little louder than the market thinks.
Even after the loss to BYU, FanDuel Sportsbook has the Irish as 3.5-point favorites for their matchup with the Hurricanes in two weeks. That number may catch some Notre Dame fans off guard, especially after Chris Ash’s defense looked overwhelmed by a BYU offense that doesn’t match the firepower Miami brings with quarterback Darian Mensah and wide receiver Malachi Toney.
The easiest explanation is the one oddsmakers usually lean on in a game like this: home-field advantage. The home team typically gets a few points baked into the line right away, and in a big matchup that number is often around three. So despite all the noise around Notre Dame’s performance against BYU, the early read on this game is basically a toss-up.
Still, the Irish haven’t exactly calmed anyone down. The aftermath of the BYU loss has hung over the program, and Marcus Freeman sounded unusually tense at his Monday press conference. He came across like a coach dealing with a defeat that felt bigger than the scoreboard.
Miami, though, has its own case. The Hurricanes labored in a win over in-state rival Florida State before putting up 43 points in overtime, then rolled past a Pitt team that had been ranked in the AP Top 25 just a few weeks earlier.
Toney was the centerpiece of that Pitt win. He caught 16 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns, and his season totals now sit at 66 receptions, 952 yards and 11 touchdowns.
That makes the matchup even more interesting given what Notre Dame just showed against BYU in Provo. The Cougars didn’t have a receiver on Toney’s level, and the Irish still had trouble handling the passing game.
The line is almost certain to move before kickoff. How far it shifts - and which direction it goes - will be worth watching.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Could Add A Veteran Defensive Voice Fans Will Debate
A familiar defensive name could surface in South Bend as Notre Dame looks at ways to add experience around Chris Ashs staff. Dave Doeren, who was fired earlier this season after a long run at North Carolina State, is currently a free agent, and his background has put him in the conversation for a part-time defensive analyst role with the Irish.
Doerens rsum is the kind that will spark debate among fans because it stretches from Drake to Wisconsin to Northern Illinois before his head-coaching stint at NC State, where the results were uneven. The appeal for Notre Dame is less about headlines than familiarity and defensive perspective, especially with Doeren and Ash having worked together before, but any move in that direction would come with the usual questions about fit, value, and how much influence a veteran voice like his should have. [Read more 🡒]
Marcus Freeman Sent A Clear Warning About Notre Dame's Offense
Notre Dames offense left too many points on the field in its recent game against BYU, and the biggest frustration was how often drives stalled at key moments. The Irish converted only 8 of 19 third downs and finished just 3 of 5 in the red zone, a combination that kept them from being as aggressive as they wanted to be and put extra pressure on the rest of the team.
Marcus Freeman made it clear afterward that he does not view the problems as a matter of conservative play calling from offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock. Instead, Freeman pointed to execution and said he is taking responsibility for the loss, with the focus now squarely on cleaning up the mistakes before the next stretch of games arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dames Offense Has One Big Chance To Regain Momentum
Saturdays matchup with Navy gives Notre Dame a clean chance to get its offense pointed back in the right direction after a stretch that has left more questions than answers. The Midshipmen have struggled to hold up against the pass, which puts some pressure on the Irish to make the most of the opportunities in front of them, especially with Micah Gilbert, Anthonie Knapp and CJ Carr among the players whose play needs to rise to the moment.
For Notre Dame, the bigger issue is less about scheme than execution. This is the kind of game where the Irish should be able to find rhythm and confidence again if the passing game sharpens and the key pieces do their part, but the matchup also serves as a reminder that progress has to show up on the field before it means anything. The setup is favorable enough to matter, and just uncertain enough to keep attention on whether this offense can finally turn a promising spot into real momentum. [Read more 🡒]