Stuckey’s Notre Dame vs. Louisville Betting Preview & Odds: Which Side Is Undervalued?

Stuckey’s Notre Dame vs. Louisville Betting Preview & Odds: Which Side Is Undervalued? article feature image
Credit:

Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports. Pictured: Louisville Cardinal

Notre Dame at Louisville Betting Odds

  • Odds: Notre Dame -18
  • Over/Under: 55
  • Moneylines: ND -1,250; Louisville +750
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • TV: ESPN

All odds as of 10 a.m. and via PointsBet.

Louisville is certainly a difficult team to gauge heading into the 2019 season after its precipitous drop in power rating from the beginning to end of last year.

The team quit on Bobby Petrino and finished 2-10 — and an almost-impossible 1-11 against-the-spread.

However, I think the market is underrating the Cardinals and that last year's effort level is not indicative of the talent on this team. I like them on Monday night at +17.5 or better.

The effort level increase alone that we should see under new head coach Scott Satterfield should make Louisville leaps and bounds more competitive from the very first kick. I predict the Cardinals will be a fast riser in most sets of power ratings over the first few weeks.

Speaking of coaching changes, there should also be an instant bump on the defensive side now that DC Brian VanGorder is gone. Notre Dame fans should know all about the poor defense under VanGorder, who was fired as Notre Dame’s DC a month into the 2016 season after the Fighting Irish allowed the most points in school history over the first four games.

Satterfield brought Bryan Brown with him over from Appalachian State to overhaul the defense. Brown led one of the best defenses in the nation last year, and his 3-4 scheme should fit much better for Louisville’s personnel. But again, the effort and care level alone should help immensely.

With regards to Notre Dame, it should take a step back from last year. The Irish have dealt with a number of key injuries at receiver and tight end over the summer.

The Irish lost three key pieces to their receiving game in tight end Cole Kmet, in addition to receivers Michael Young and Kevin Austin. There’s also a plethora of NFL talent lost on the defensive side of the ball, especially up the middle.

#IrishIllustrated has been informed that #NotreDame tight end Cole Kmet suffered a broken collarbone during Thursday’s practice https://t.co/ySGiubiLqq@247Sportspic.twitter.com/StBk76p9Tk

— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) August 8, 2019

The biggest drop in production for Notre Dame could come in the department most people tend to underestimate: special teams. ND punter Tyler Newsome and kicker Justin Yoon are both gone.

I think this number is too high and will be playing the Cardinals.

Pick: Louisville +17.5 or better

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