Notre Dame at Wake Forest
Time: 11 AM CT
Spread: ND -7.5
Total: 60

Odds c/o 5dimes

No. 8 ranked Notre Dame is 3-0 after defeating Vanderbilt 22-17 in Week 3. The Fighting Irish now travel to face Wake Forest as 7.5-point favorites. The game has an over/under of 60 points according to college football oddsmakers at 5dimes, and it will air at 11 AM (CT) on ABC Saturday.

Notre Dame

Notre Dame thus far has survived three close scares in its first three games. It won 24-17 over then-No. 14 ranked Michigan in Week 1, edged out Ball State 24-16 in Week 2, and it knocked off Vandy by five points last week. The Fighting Irish continue to have a battle at the QB position between Brandon Wimbush and Ian Book. Wimbush has received most of the playing time, but Brian Kelly is still considering Book and he refused to say who would start against Wake Forest. Wimbrush has thrown 42 of 76 for 589 yards, but he has just one TD pass and four interceptions already this season. He is also completing just 55 percent of his passes for just under eight yards per pass.

Book may be able to up those figures, considering its scarcely possible to play any worse while winning three football games.

Tony Jones Jr. is leading the Fighting Irish in rushing with 224 yards on 39 carries with two TDs on the season. Jafar Armstrong has also rushed for 147 yards and a team-leading three touchdowns. Wimbrush has averaged just 2.8 yards on his 49 attempts, though he does have a long rush of 22-yard and a rushing TD thus far. His top WRs have been Miles Boykin, Chris Finke, and Chase Claypool—all of whom have 100 yards or better on the season.

Troubling though, is the fact Finke is the only one with a receiving TD. Though Notre Dame is still undefeated, the poor passing game leaves plenty of red flags, and Wake Forest has to be taken extremely seriously as just 7.5-point dogs to the FBS independent Irish.

Wake Forest

Wake Forest is 2-1 on the season after falling to Boston College in Week 3, by a score of 41-34. The Demon Deacons won its weeks 1 and 2 matchups against Tulane and Towson. Sam Hartman has completed 68 of 123 passes on the year (55 percent), for 834 yards with six TDs and five interceptions. The picks have been costly, but Wake’s offensive attack is still diverse and potent. Cade Carney has rushed for 300 yards through three games, with 5.7 yards-per-carry and a team-leading two rushing TDs.

Hartman has attempted 41 rushes from the QB position for 193 total yards and a TD, as well. Cutting down on his inaccuracies and making better decisions passing the football could render Wake a challenging opponent this year, even for nationally ranked teams like Notre Dame.

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