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    Notre Dame vs. Virginia college football odds: Spread may rise past 7 points if ACC passing leader Brennan Armstrong ruled out for Wahoos

    Notre Dame may not have to face one of the nation's top QBs on Saturday at Virginia
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    Notre Dame is ranked seventh in the latest Associated Press Top 25 and probably will be around there in the new College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday night – the Irish were No. 10 in the first CFP rankings. There is a potential path to the playoff if Coach Brian Kelly's team wins out, and Notre Dame might catch a major break Saturday at Virginia, which is listing star QB Brennan Armstrong as a game-time decision. The Irish are -5.5 at Caesars Sportsbook but that likely would rise to at least -7 if Armstrong is ruled out early enough.

    Armstrong, a junior, is No. 2 in the nation with 3,557 passing yards and fifth with 27 TD passes. He also has rushed for 271 yards and seven scores.

    In Virginia's last game, a 66-49 loss at BYU on Oct. 30, Armstrong threw for 337 yards with four touchdowns and two picks. He rushed for a four-yard gain on fourth-and-4 early in the fourth quarter and took a big hit to the ribs. Armstrong stayed in for one play but was intercepted and clearly in a lot of pain – while limping to the sideline, he was mouthing "It's broken. It's broken."

    Coach Bronco Mendenhall is calling Armstrong a game-time decision for now as UVA looks to beat a Top 10 team for the first time since knocking off Florida State in 2005: "We're going to give him every minute right until the ball's kicked off to be our quarterback. The team knows that, I know that, he knows that. He's earned that chance. …  I planning on him being our quarterback, and I probably won't have an update until the ball is kicked off, and we all look out there and see who our quarterback is."

    The coach added Armstrong doesn't necessarily need to practice this week to play. In one regard, sitting Armstrong for this non-conference game might make sense to get him healthy for the final two ACC games at Pittsburgh and vs. rival Virginia Tech. If Virginia wins those, it would win the ACC Coastal Division.

    The last time Virginia played without Armstrong was vs. Wake Forest last season and UVA lost 40-23 on the road. The current depth chart lists redshirt freshman Ira Armstead and freshman Jay Woolfolk as backups to Armstrong. Woolfolk replaced him at BYU and has completed 2-for-6 on the season for 35 yards while rushing seven times for 44. He probably would start. Armstead is 0-for-2 passing on the year with 49 yards on 12 carries.

    Virginia is the sixth opponent the Irish have faced this season coming off of their bye week. The Irish are 4-1 in those games.

    Looking for the best picks against the spread, sharp plays on the total, and props you can take straight to the pay window? Join Jonathan Coachman on the Early Edge as he speaks with SportsLine's top handicappers to preview the day's biggest games. We promise to keep it short, sweet and to put some green in your pocket. Early Edge is in your feed every single day by 11 a.m. ET. Subscribe right here on YouTube to watch daily, plus don't miss the Early Edge specials and live shows!

    Matt SeveranceSeverance Pays

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