Notre Dame threw 30 times in its season opener amid a mostly trailing game script against Miami. We expect the Irish to return to their ground-and-pound ways against Texas A&M and also expect the Irish to be stout defensively and put the Aggies in long down and distance. The game script should lend to going Under the total.
The Ags have romped past capable UTSA (which needed a 34-yard TD pass in the last 14 seconds to cover the opener) and Utah State, with the offense scoring at a healthy 43 ppg clip. Soph QB Marcel Reed has also hit the ground running, with seven TD passes and 0 picks thru two weeks. The Domers had a week off to stew after their opening loss at Miami, but this always looked a tough hill to climb at the outset with a new QB (RS frosh CJ Carr) leading the offense. Last year's 23-13 Notre Dame win (tied 13-13 at 2 minute warning) in the opener at College Station was also before Reed made his presence felt for A&M. Play Texas A&M
Last year's meeting between these two was an ugly offensive performance and I anticipate this year's looking much the same. Marcel Reed needs to prove to me he can be a dropback passer against a real defense, and CJ Carr is still a very inexperienced young QB.
