The Notre Dame Fighting Irish take on the Miami Hurricanes in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Sunday, Aug. 31. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Notre Dame is favored by -2.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -135. The total is set at 49.5 points.
Here are my Notre Dame vs Miami prediction and college football picks for Sunday, August 31.
Notre Dame vs Miami Prediction
- Notre Dame vs Miami Pick: Notre Dame 1H ML -130
My Miami vs Notre Dame best bet is on the Fighting Irish first-half moneyline. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Notre Dame vs Miami Odds
| Notre Dame Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -105 | 50.5 -115o / -105u | -142 |
| Miami Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -115 | 50.5 -115o / -105u | +120 |
- Notre Dame vs Miami Spread: Notre Dame -3, Miami +3
- Notre Dame vs Miami Over/Under: 50.5 Points
- Notre Dame vs Miami Moneyline: Notre Dame -142, Miami +120
Notre Dame vs Miami Preview
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Betting Preview: Floor Raised in South Bend
Head coach Marcus Freeman begins another campaign in South Bend after falling a victory short of winning a national title.
The former Cincinnati defensive coordinator has raised the floor of the Notre Dame program, posting 33 wins in four seasons with a 6-2 mark in bowl games.
Despite a change at defensive coordinator from Al Golden to Chris Ash, the Irish are expected to be one of the best defensive pass teams in the nation.
Cornerback Leonard Moore returns after a stellar freshman season that saw him post seven pass breakups with an additional two interceptions. Notre Dame finished 2024 as the second-best coverage team in PFF grading, along with a rank of 12th in creating a contested catch.
Mike Denbrock made the unexpected move back to South Bend as offensive coordinator after coaching Jayden Daniels to the Heisman for LSU.
The seasoned coordinator cashed in with one of the deepest offensive line units in the country, a rising wide receiver unit and one of the best running backs in the nation in Jeremiyah Love.
Love returns at running back after posting 17 touchdowns with a single fumble lost in 2024. Despite dealing with an injury, Love generated over 100 rushing yards and a touchdown in a home playoff victory over Indiana.
Miami Hurricanes Betting Preview: Influx of Talent
The Miami offense got an infusion of talent at the skill positions, starting with Georgia transfer quarterback Carson Beck.
The former Bulldog had one of the worst seasons of his four-year career in 2024, suffering a jump in his turnover-worthy play rate from 2.3% to 2.8% despite a near equal amount of pressured dropbacks.
Beck failed to execute during the toughest stretch of Georgia's season, racking up eight turnover-worthy plays and no big-time throws in consecutive games against Texas, Florida and Ole Miss.
The wide receiver room is stocked with talent from upperclassmen names via the transfer portal. Seniors CJ Daniels and Tony Johnson will fill the wideout and slot position, respectively.
Sophomore Joshisa Trader has plenty of breakout potential from camp reports after hauling in just six catches in 2024.
On the other side of the ball, defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman arrives from Minnesota looking to resolve the Hurricanes' issues with tackling and red-zone efficiency.
The 4-2-5 scheme will continue to keep Miami as one of the top defensive Havoc teams in the nation, especially with the return of edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. The junior produced 28 pressures last season, including 10 alone against Louisville.
Notre Dame vs Miami Pick, Betting Analysis
Mother Nature will play a role at Hard Rock Stadium, as rain is in the forecast with the potential of a downpour. Any precipitation on the Tifway 419 Bermuda grass will favor the better offensive line and running game combination.
Denbrock is sure to continue the use of the heavy inside zone attack mixed with man blocking schemes from 2024.
Hetherman will be tasked with fixing a Miami defense that finished 57th in broken tackles allowed. A healthy Love should have no issues creating methodical drives for Notre Dame, potentially taking the load off new quarterback CJ Carr.
Conversely, Beck may struggle to be in sync early with a cabinet full of new wide receivers.
Pick: Notre Dame 1H ML -130 or Better
