The No. 20 University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-3, 2-1 Away) will be out to add to their winning run when they face the United States Naval Academy Midshipmen (3-6, 2-3 Home) at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday. The Fighting Irish are 16-point favorites, and the total is 40.
Notre Dame is coming off a runaway 35-14 win over No. 5 Clemson at Notre Dame Stadium last Saturday, their third straight victory. Drew Pyne threw for 85 yards and a touchdown. Logan Diggs ran 17 times for 114 yards. Michael Mayer caught four passes for 44 yards and a touchdown.
Navy lost 20-10 to Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium last Saturday. Maasai Maynor was 3 of 5 for 84 yards. Xavier Arline carried 12 times for 87 yards. Nathan Kent had one reception for 32 yards.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Fighting Irish won the only meeting between the teams last season, a 34-6 victory in November. Kyren Williams had two touchdowns for Notre Dame.
TALE OF THE TAPE
The Fighting Irish are averaging 29.1 points per game for the season, 69th in FBS, and they are facing a Midshipmen defense that has surrendered 24.8 PPG (54th). Meanwhile, Navy has scored 21.7 points a game this season, 109th in the country, and Notre Dame is allowing 21.2 PPG (27th).
The Fighting Irish rank as one of the country’s worst teams in passing yards per game (184.0, 115th), while they are 28th in rushing yards (195.1). They may find their best opportunities through the air, as the Midshipmen are 114th in the country in passing yards allowed per game (275.0).
Against the run, Navy is seventh (88.0).Navy has been one of the country’s top rushing teams, averaging 236.9 yards per game (9th), while ranking 128th in passing yards (99.7). The Fighting Irish are allowing 203.3 passing yards (33rd) and 124.3 rushing yards per game (34th).
TOP PERFORMERS
Through eight games, Drew Pyne has thrown for 14 touchdowns (4 INT) and 159.8 yards per game to lead Notre Dame in passing. In two games away from home this season, he has four TDs (1 INT) and an average of 202.5 yards passing. Audric Estime leads the team in rushing with an average of 73.6 yards a game over nine games.
He has nine touchdowns on the ground and one through the air. Michael Mayer is the Fighting Irish’s leading receiver with 69.3 yards a game and seven TDs. Tai Lavatai has five passing touchdowns (3 INT) with 98.4 yards per game through eight games to lead Navy.
Daba Fofana has been the team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 55.8 yards a game through nine games. He has five touchdowns. Jayden Umbarger has been the primary target in the Midshipmen’s passing game. He has two touchdowns and a 37.9 yard per game average through seven appearances.
SportsTips’ College Football Pick:
Under 39.5 (-110)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
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