It’s only Week 4 in the 2024 NCAAF season. Still, football fans and, of course, the followers of a proper betting strategy are ready to set sight on a glorious battle between the Miami (OH) RedHawks and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish this Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium. After the RedHawks came from the match with the plane with a 0-2 record and the Fighting Irish arrived with a 2-1 record, the fans are to have a great show. This matchup offers many wagering opportunities, particularly in free NCAAF total picks.
Miami (OH) RedHawks vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 9/21/24 Game Info |
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| When: | Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 3:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Notre Dame Stadium |
| TV: | NBC |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Miami (OH) RedHawks (0-2) vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-1)
The Miami (OH) RedHawks are in desperate search of momentum. Coming off recent losses to Cincinnati and Northwestern, their offense must find its rhythm. Led by Jordan Brunson, the rushing part of the team has not been performing well either, as Brunson has only been able to muster 33 rushing yards on 8 attempts all season. On the contrary, wide receiver Cade McDonald has been a bright spot for the team, with an impressive 16 receptions for 240 yards. His ability to generate offense will be vital as the RedHawks try to attack the Notre Dame secondary, which has proven to be a weakness throughout the season.
On the other hand, Notre Dame Fighting Irish has been very reliable especially when it comes to their grounds. Jeremiyah Love has been terrific, with 279 yards rushing on 35 carries that will be a force to reckon with within Notre Dame’s strategy to dominate the time and control the game’s tempo. While not spectacular, the receiving corps spearheaded by Beaux Collins, who had 116 yards from 12 receptions, has been good enough to support the running game. Coming off a dominant win against Purdue and a tough loss to Northern Illinois, Notre Dame will look to leverage their home advantage and strong recent performance against Texas A&M to secure another victory.
Brett Gabbert QB vs. Riley Leonard QB
Brett Gabbert has not had the best season for him so far, and he has not even been consistent and has 62.5 completion percentage with three interceptions and only two touchdowns. Gabbert’s problems, especially when his passer rating was 129.4 and 7 sacks show that Miami’s offence has had problems against physical defences. How well he will coordinate the team without losing the possession of the ball will be critical against a formidable Notre Dame defense.
Riley Leonard, on the other hand, had a rather up-and-down type of performance at the beginning of the season. With no touchdown passes and two interceptions, Leonard’s (104. 3) passer rating demonstrates the inability to turn drives into points. Still, his experience and his capacity to avoid such undesired plays might prove very useful in a game which could possibly be entirely full of defensive plays.
In this case, the game will only depend on how the two young quarterbacks will play especially when under pressure. Gabbert must regain his form quickly to make maximum use of these situations where sometimes Notre Dame’s defense drops their guard and Leonard has to strictly handle the game playing the role of a runner and converting the running game into good passing situations.
NCAAF Odds/Point Spread: Notre Dame Fighting Irish -25.5 (-115), Total Odds: 43.5
The betting lines suggest a lopsided contest, with Notre Dame heavily favored by 25.5 points. The total set at 43.5 reflects expectations of a moderately scoring game, influenced by both teams’ recent underperformances in offense. Bettors might find value in exploring the total points market, given the strong defensive trends both teams have exhibited.
Miami (OH) RedHawks Betting Trends
Miami’s impressive 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games indicates a tendency to outperform betting expectations, especially as underdogs. Their road game resilience, evident from a 6-1 SU record in their last seven away games, suggests they could cover the spread against Notre Dame.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Betting Trends
Notre Dame’s betting trends reveal a team that’s formidable at home, going 8-2 in total overs in their last 10 home games. Their 5-1 ATS record in their last six games overall demonstrates their ability to cover large spreads, making them a strong candidate to do so again against Miami.
Miami (OH) RedHawks vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 9/21/24 Betting Picks
All these give us enough reason to believe that the under on the total points will be a good decision because of the Miami (OH) and Notre Dame’s defensive displays and inconsistent offence. The spread is 7 points in favor of Notre Dame and because Notre Damed plays well at home, and Miami is struggling scoring, the former is most likely going to win this bet.
As for the prop bets, one good bet is Jeremiyah Love to score a touchdown – anytime. As expert-paid selections that involve paying for them suggest, taking Notre Dame to cover and going with under 43.5 provides a tactical discussion of this confrontation.