Free College Football Picks Today: Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Brigham Young Cougars 10/8/22

The No. 16 Brigham Young University Cougars (4-1, 1-1 Away) and University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-2, 1-1 Home) open Independents (FBS) Conference play at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday. The Fighting Irish are 3.5-point favorites, and the total is 51. BYU is coming off a 38-26 win over Utah State at LaVell Edwards Stadium last Thursday. Jaren Hall threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns. Christopher Brooks ran 11 times for 90 yards and a touchdown. Kody Epps caught five passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. Notre Dame beat North Carolina 45-32 at Kenan Memorial Stadium on September 24. Drew Pyne was 24 of 34 for 289 yards and three touchdowns. Audric Estime carried 17 times for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Michael Mayer added a touchdown of his own. He hauled in seven receptions for 88 yards.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The Cougars are averaging 34.4 points per game for the season, best in the Independents (FBS), and they are facing a Fighting Irish defense that has surrendered 24.0 PPG (2nd). Meanwhile, Notre Dame has scored 25.0 points a game this season, fourth in the conference, and BYU is allowing 26.4 PPG (3rd).The Cougars rank 24th in the nation in passing yards per game (293.2) and 74th in rushing (152.6), while the Fighting Irish are 53rd in passing yards allowed per game (213.3) and 68th against the run (142.3).Notre Dame is 96th in the nation in passing yards per game (209.3) and 65th in rushing (160.0). BYU’s defense has proven strong through the air, as the Cougars are 19th in the country in passing yards allowed per game (175.6). Against the run, the Cougars are 93rd (162.6).

TOP PERFORMERS

Through five games, Jaren Hall has thrown for 12 touchdowns (1 INT) and 287.6 yards per game to lead BYU in passing. In two games away from home this season, he has four TDs (1 INT) and an average of 283.0 yards passing. Christopher Brooks leads the team in rushing with an average of 58.8 yards a game over five games. He has four touchdowns on the ground. Keanu Hill is the Cougars’ leading receiver with 65.8 yards a game and four TDs. Drew Pyne has six passing touchdowns (1 INT) with 153.0 yards per game through three games to lead Notre Dame. Audric Estime has been the team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 66.0 yards a game through four games. He has four touchdowns. Michael Mayer has been the primary target in the Fighting Irish’s passing game. He has three touchdowns and a 58.2 yard per game average through four appearances.