Cougars Host Irish in Provo: #2 Notre Dame vs. #8 BYU NCAA Football Picks & Predictions (10/17)
Written by: Nate Hornung
Last Update: Fri Oct 16, 2026, 3:09 pm ET
Read Time: 4 minutes
ncaaf
Spread
Total
Moneyline
-10.5
-110
46
-110u
-400
Spread
Total
Moneyline
+10.5
-110
45
+105o
+335
The No. 8 BYU Cougars are hosting quite possibly their biggest game in program history this weekend, as they take on the No. 2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. This BYU team is not used to losing, having lost only twice in each of the past two seasons. But both losses last year were to the same team, Texas Tech, who were arguably not as good as this year's Irish team. Will that matter this weekend? Does BYU have what it takes to pull off this upset as a double digit, home underdog? Or will Marcus Freeman and company roll through Provo with another win? Find out with our NCAA Football expert picks below.
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NCAA Football Expert Insights: #2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. #8 BYU Cougars
Bear Bachmeier lead the Cougars against the Fighting Irish without his number one running back. Will there be trouble in Provo?
The biggest worry for BYU has to be their running game. They will be without LJ Martin, their number one RB. That severely hurts this offense, and puts a lot more pressure on young QB Bear Bachmeier to make plays with both his arm, and his legs. Will he live up to the task against the toughest opponent he's faced in his collegiate football career?
As for the Irish, they are playing with a chip on their shoulder. They narrowly missed out on the College Football Playoff last year (should've gotten in, in my opinion), and now they know they need nothing short of perfection to make the field of 12 this year. While at one point I thought this game might be competitive, I am leaning towards an Irish blowout.
Matchup Information – Notre Dame vs. BYU – October 17
- Venue & Location: LaVell Edwards Stadium (Provo, UT)
- Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Kick Off: 7:30 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: ABC
Fighting Irish vs. Cougars Betting Odds
Odds listed are from BetOnline as of Friday, October 16, 2026 at 2:22 p.m. eastern.
Spread
- Notre Dame -10.5 (-110)
- BYU +10.5 (-110)
Moneyline
- Notre Dame -415
- BYU +327
Total
- Over 45 (-125)
- Under 45 (+105)
#2 Notre Dame vs. #8 BYU: NCAA Football Expert Picks
Jordan Faison leads the Irish with 28 receptions for 387 yards and four touchdowns so far this year
Notre Dame vs. BYU Prediction: Notre Dame Wins and Covers, Over 45
Best Bets: Notre Dame -10.5 (-110) BetOnline
I do not want to discredit BYU. They are a very good football team. Unfortunately, Notre Dame is a National Championship caliber program this season. Facing them without your top back is not going to be easy. Plus, let's look at last year.
BYU dominated all their opponents last year except for one. Texas Tech smoked the Cougars in the regular season, winning 29-7. And then did it again in the Big 12 Championship, winning 34-7. Fast forward to the CFP, and Texas Tech gets blown out by Oregon, losing 23-0. There are levels to this.
BYU is a great football team, probably the best in the Big 12 Conference. Notre Dame might be the best team in the country. They are going to show it on Saturday. The Irish are going into a bye, they have nothing to look forward to, and I would imagine Marcus Freeman goes full force this weekend without letting his foot off the gas.
The players for the Irish better line up confession with a priest when they get back to South Bend, because I see them committing murder on the road this Saturday.
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Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
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