Notre Dame vs Navy NCAAF Week Zero Preview and Prediction August 26, 2023
Posted 11 months ago | Betting Previews and Predictions, NCAAF | 4 comments
Notre Dame vs Navy August 26, 2023 @ Dublin, Ireland
Opening Betting Odds
Spread: Notre Dame -20.5, Navy +20.5
Moneyline: Notre Dame N/A, Navy N/A
Total: 49.5
Preview
This will be the third time that The Fighting Irish will play the Navy Midshipmen in Ireland. The previous two meetings were technically home games for Navy, while this will be Notre Dame’s first home game in Ireland. These two teams last played in Ireland back in 2012 at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The Irish won that contest by a final score of 50-10. The first time these teams played in Ireland was back in 1996, and Notre Dame won that game 52-27 at Dublin’s Croke Park.
“The Aer Lingus College Football Classic Series is a really important event for the tourism and hospitality sector in Dublin and all across the island and I am pleased to support the series via funding from Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland,” said Minister for Tourism, Catherin Martin T.D.
“The game in August will also provide opportunities for business, education and other sectoral exchanges between Ireland and US and will further strengthen the cultural, sporting and affinity links between our two countries.”
The game is already sold out, and an estimated 40,000 fans are expected to travel from overseas. It is projected that the 2023 College Football Classic will bring in over 150,000,000 Euros to the Irish economy.
Notre Dame
- 9-4 Overall in 2022
- 7-6 ATS in 2022
The Marcus Freeman Era got off to a rocky start, with the Irish losing their first two games last season. A 20-10 loss to Ohio State wasn’t unexpected, but fans had the pitchforks out when The Irish lost at home to Marshall a week later. The Irish went on to win nine of their next 11 games finishing with a solid 9-4 record.
There is plenty of reason for optimism heading into 2023, perhaps most significant is the arrival of quarterback Sam Hartman who transfers from Wake Forest. Hartman was one of the top signal callers in the country last year, throwing for 3.701 yards, 38 TDs and 12 INTs.
He steps behind one of the nation’s best offensive lines, and is surrounded by plenty of talented running backs. The Irish will need guys to step up at wide receiver and tight end, and they have plenty of holes on the defensive line.
Navy
- 4-8 Overall in 2022
- 4-4 in the AAC in 2022
- 7-5 ATS in 2022
At first glance it looks like Navy was a really bad team last year, but the reality is that they were on the wrong end of a lot of close games. Senior quarterback Tai Lavatai is back for the 2023 season, and if he can stay healthy it should bode well for the Midshipmen. He was banged up last year, and missed the final four games. Navy isn’t going to abandon the Triple Option, but they are expected to spice things up a little this season with new offensive coordinator Grant Chestnut coming over from Kennesaw State.
Navy’s defense ranked first in the conference in third down stops last season, and second in sacks. They ranked 2nd overall in the country against the run, and they are loaded with veterans in the secondary. If this team wants to go bowling again in 2023, they will need to be a lot better on the offensive side of the ball.
Relevant Trends
- The Midshipmen are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
- The over is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings.
- Fighting Irish are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 neutral site games.
- The over is 7-0 in the Fighting Irish last seven games overall.
- The over is 4-1 in the Fighting Irish last five neutral site games.
PREDICTION: NOTRE DAME 44 – NAVY 21
The Irish won by 20+ in both their previous games in Ireland (vs Navy), and both those games were high scoring affairs. Last year in this stadium we saw Northwestern upset Nebraska by a score of 31-28. We saw these teams play a high scoring game at the end of last year, with Notre Dame winning by a score of 35-32. This Irish offense should be vastly improved with Sam Hartman under center. Navy was able to run for 255 yards and two TDs on 46 carries against The Irish last year, and they could wear down this defensive line again here in Ireland. The best bet here appears to be on the total, as it looks a little low all things considered.
4 comments on Notre Dame vs Navy NCAAF Week Zero Preview and Prediction August 26, 2023
Sam Hartman is totally overrated, and so is Notre Dame. No way the Irish should be asked to win this game by more than 20 points. I bet this ends up being a low scoring game decided by less than 10 points.
This looks like a rocking chair winner for Notre Dame. The Irish are gonna win this game by 30+. Nothing Navy can do to slow this team down. I would bet this early because the line is gonna be bet up.
I am not a big fan of this PREVIEW and PREDICTION! You calling for 44-21 … that’s a pretty big number for a game in Ireland. Navy ain’t giving up no 40 points. You should make your writers piss in a cup because they are clearly smoking something!
The Irish are going to the Playoffs. They finally have a QB …. Hartman is going to light it up against the cupcakes that Notre Dame has on it’s schedule. Can’t wait!