Simulation Picks
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Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Understanding Public and Money
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Expert Picks
There might not be a team that's symbolized the idea of "winning ugly" better than Northwestern this season, and I expect the Wildcats to ugly things up as much as possible against Notre Dame. I just don't know that they'll be able to cover the spread while doing it, so instead I'll take the Under here as Northwestern's defense plays well at home.
Notre Dame’s defense is ranked No. 21, while Northwestern is No. 23. Pat Fitzgerald will come up with a defensive scheme to slow down the Irish. The crowd will be 60/40 Notre Dame Fans. Northwestern's running game is the third-worst in college football, and its offense is 116th in points per play scored. On the other hand, Notre Dame's defense is No. 14 in points per play allowed.
Northwestern finds itself alone in first place in the Big Ten West right now, but don't let that fool you. It's a team that's in this position due to circumstance than its own ability. Yes, it just beat Wisconsin at home, but it was a Wisconsin team without its starting QB and fumbled 3 times. Northwestern had 3 turnovers of its own in the game. Notre Dame is the better team, and this spread doesn't give an accurate reflection of these team's capabilities.