One of the biggest matchups of the weekend with direct College Football Playoff implications. No. 9 Notre Dame heads to Pittsburgh to take on No. 22 Pitt. The Fighting Irish are currently 7-2 and need to win out in order to make the playoffs. They can not afford to let up off the gas.
The Fighting Irish enter this matchup as a 12.5 point favorite and the total sits at 54.5. I lean heavily toward Notre Dame covering that 12.5. They have done nothing but put their cleats on their opponents throats for the last seven weeks. However, I went another route. Since I already believe they are going to want to do whatever they can to run up the score in this one, I turned to the Notre Dame first half team total over 16.5. It is a little juicy at a $1.30, but I would rather secure that key number than chase a better price. Do I think they put up twenty or more in the first half. Yes, but I want the perfect number.
The Irish are Rolling Again
Since Notre Dame's first two losses of the season against Miami and Texas A&M, they have completely turned on the gas and destroyed every team in their path. Excluding those first two games, they have averaged 32.5 points per game while allowing 10.14 points per game. They are simply overwhelming everyone. They did this last season after their loss to Northern Illinois. Everyone counted them out and they went on a run all the way to the National Championship. On top of that, the Irish are averaging nearly 20 points in the first half, while Pitt is allowing 12.
Is Narduzzi Serious?
There has been some added motivation in this matchup as well. Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi was asked whether this game was a must-win for him and his team. His response: Absolutely not. It is not an ACC game. I am glad you brought that up. It is not an ACC game. I would gladly get beat one hundred and three or one hundred and ten to ten in that game. They could put one hundred on us as long as we win the next two after that.
Pure comedy from Narduzzi. Does it mean anything? Who knows, but the Panthers do head into a bye after this game before traveling to Atlanta to take on No. 16 Georgia Tech.
With this matchup clearly meaning more to the Irish, and with Narduzzi practically daring them, this is a great spot for Marcus Freeman and his team to run it up early and go well over the 16.5 team total in the first half.
