Cincinnati vs Notre Dame Prediction, Odds and Spread for College Football Week 5

No. 7 Cincinnati travels to South Bend, Indiana for a top 10 matchup against No. 9 Notre Dame on Saturday afternoon.

In what is essentially a College Football Playoff elimination game, who has the betting edge after the Irish won on a neutral field against Wisconsin last weekend?

Here are the odds for the game of the weekend in college football, courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.

Cincinnati vs. Notre Dame Odds

Spread

Cincinnati: -2.5 (-105)

Notre Dame: +2.5 (-115)

Moneyline

Cincinnati: -125 

Notre Dame: +105

Total

50.5 (Over -110/Under -110)

Cincinnati vs Notre Dame Prediction and Pick

Cincinnati enters this matchup in pursuit of becoming the first non-Power 5 team to make the CFP, and I think they leave South Bend one step closer to that feat. 

The edge for the Bearcats lies on the defensive side of the ball with Cincy posting the 31st best havoc rate in the country. The Bearcats are allowing just over four yards per play this season, and should have no issues attacking Notre Dame’s weakest position group, the offensive line.

The Irish are outside the top 100 in offensive line yards and averaging less than three yards per carry. The running game is non existent this season, and that spells trouble with starting quarterback Jack Coan nursing a bum ankle, which kept him out late against Wisconsin. 

So, can the Irish throw the ball down field? They have benefitted from explosive passes all season, but with Coan’s ability to move around the pocket limited, coupled with the fact that the Bearcats have the 23rd best explosive pass defense and are fantastic at making plays in the secondary, I’m not counting on it. 

There’s a ton of familiarity on the coaching staffs, ND head coach Brian Kelly was in charge at UC before going to South Bend, and this is defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman’s first year with the Irish after taking the same role he had at Cincinnati. 

While Freeman may be able to game plan to slow down a familiar face in Desmond Ridder as well have the inside scoop defense he recruited, I trust Ridder to use his legs as a weapon to attack a Notre Dame defense that has uninspiring at stopping the run.

There has been a lot of talk around this game, and there’s definitely a chip on the shoulder for Cincinnati considering they have become a bit of a Notre Dame pipeline.

Coming off a bye, and playing in a hostile environment two weeks ago against a Power 5 foe in Indiana, I envision Cincinnati coming out with a purpose and taking care of business against Notre Dame, that is overdue for a loss after skating by early in the year.

Pick: Cincinnati -2.5, play to -3. 

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