Miami vs. Notre Dame college football prediction and odds, Digi Mart USA News: Miami deserves to be ranked No. 1 in the country, but it also warrants plenty of skepticism. The Hurricanes have yet to lose this season, yet two of their last three wins have come against weaker opposition and were far from comfortable.
Florida State pushed Miami to double overtime in Week 7 as a three-score underdog. UNC, which was getting 14 points, kept its margin of defeat to just three points in Week 9.
Those results are not encouraging heading into a matchup with Notre Dame, and reports that Malachi Toney will miss the trip will not help matters.
The Fighting Irish are 7.5-point home favorites over the Hurricanes on Saturday night. Miami’s offense still ranks No. 1 in SP+, No. 3 in yards per play and No. 1 in points per game.
However, the defense cannot be trusted, especially against competent opponents.
UNC gained 6.7 yards per play against Miami last week, Pitt, which started a backup quarterback, averaged 6.6, and Florida State was better than both at 6.9. If those offenses have been running freely against this defense, the publication argues, CJ Carr and Notre Dame, the No. 2 unit in the country per SP+, could do even more damage.
Miami’s offense has been good enough to make its defensive issues irrelevant by the final whistle, but the loss of Toney severely limits the Hurricanes’ ceiling with the ball. Notre Dame ranks third in points allowed per game (13.4), first in yards allowed per game (236.3) and seventh in yards per play (4.2).
Its run defense has been extraordinary, limiting opponents to 85.4 yards per game (seventh overall) and 2.8 yards per carry (ninth).
Notre Dame should be able to keep Miami’s running game in check, which would force Darian Mensah to beat the Irish on his own. Notre Dame may have been tested only once this year at BYU, but this matchup should suit the Fighting Irish, who are facing Miami while the Hurricanes are playing their weakest football in two years.
