Notre Dame vs Texas A&M NCAAF Week 1 Betting Preview and Prediction August 31, 2024

Posted 1 month ago |  Betting Previews and Predictions, Featured, NCAAF  |  0 comments

Notre Dame vs Texas A&M August 31, 2024 @ College Station, TX

Opening Betting Odds

Spread: Notre Dame PK, Texas A&M PK
Moneyline: Notre Dame -110, Texas A&M -110
Total: 49

Preview

Mike Elko comes over from Duke to take the head coach job for Texas A&M, and he will face his former quarterback Riley Leonard who transferred from Duke to Notre Dame in the off-season. Elko had previously worked as the defensive coordinator at both Texas A&M and Notre Dame.

The bookmakers like Notre Dame’s chances of making the playoffs, priced at -170. They aren’t as optimistic about the Aggies, who are priced at +260 to make the playoffs.

The Aggies regular season win total is set at 8.5, while the bookmakers have Notre Dame’s season win total set at 10.5. Mike Elko’s Duke Blue Devils lost 21-17 at home to the Irish last September, giving the new Aggies coach a chance to avenge that loss here in Week 1.

Notre Dame

• 10-3 Overall in 2023
• 9-3-1 ATS in 2023

The Irish didn’t live up to expectations after bringing in Sam Hartman at QB last year, and expectations are sky high once again with Riley Leonard coming over from Duke. Leonard is coming off an injury, and the offensive line looks a little shaky.

The defense will be a strength, bringing back five starters including a pair of All Americans. The Irish ranked 8th nationally allowing just 16.6 points per game in 2023.

Replacing Audric Estime at running back won’t be easy, especially behind a potentially inferior offensive line. The Irish are high on Jeremiya Love and Jadarian Price who each averaged over 5 yards per carry as backups last year.

Texas A&M

• 7-6 Overall in 2023
• 4-4 in the SEC in 2023
• 5-7-1 ATS in 2023

The Aggies bring back QB Connor Weigman who threw for 979 yards, 8 TDs and 2 INTs on 69 percent passing in just four starts last season before suffering an injury. Keeping him upright will be key to the Aggies success on offense in 2024.

The defense ranked first in the SEC against the pass last season, and they picked up the sack leader in the BIG10 last year Nick Scorton in the transfer portal.

Giving a coach like Mike Elko a defense loaded with future NFL draft picks is likely to work out just fine at College Station. He will have a lot more to work with than he did at Duke where he won nine games in 2022.

Relevant Trends

• The Irish are 14-4 SU in their last 18 games on the road.
• The Irish are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 overall.
• The Over is 7-3 in Notre Dame’s last 10 overall.
• The Aggies are 8-1 SU in their last 9 games at home.
• The Aggies are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games played in week 1.

PREDICTION: TEXAS A&M 28 – NOTRE DAME 17

The weakness of both these teams (hypothetically) is their offensive line. The expected strength of both these teams is their defensive line. You have new coaching staffs, new offensive coordinators and a new quarterback for the Irish. An injury to the starting left tackle for Notre Dame will make it even tougher here in Week 1 on the road. We expect a low scoring defensive battle here in College Station.

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