The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will try to avoid losing a fourth game in a season for the first time in six years when they take on the No. 16 Syracuse Orange on Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, N.Y. In the first season under coach Marcus Freeman, the Irish (4-3) have won four of their last five games after dropping their first two to start the season. The last time Notre Dame lost four games in a season came in 2016 when the Irish went 4-8 under Brian Kelly. Meanwhile the Orange (6-1) are off to their best start since 1995 when they went 9-3.
Kickoff is noon ET. The Orange are 1.5-point favorites in the latest Syracuse vs. Notre Dame odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 47.5. Before making any Notre Dame vs. Syracuse picks, be sure to check out the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past six-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Notre Dame vs. Syracuse and just revealed its picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several college football odds and trends for Syracuse vs. Notre Dame:
- Notre Dame vs. Syracuse spread: Orange -1.5
- Notre Dame vs. Syracuse over/under: 47.5 points
- Notre Dame vs. Syracuse money line: Orange -120, Fighting Irish +100
- SYR: The Orange rank sixth in the nation in scoring defense (15.1 points per game).
- ND: Isaiah Foskey ranks 17th in the country in sacks per game (0.86).
- Notre Dame vs. Syracuse picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Syracuse can cover
Syracuse has excelled at home this season. The Orange are a perfect 5-for-5 in the JMA Wireless Dome this year with the average score being 34-13. In the last home game, Syracuse knocked off No. 15 NC State, 24-9. A victory on Saturday would equal the most home wins in a season since the Dome opened in 1980, tying 2018 (6-0), '01 (6-0), '88 (6-0) and '87 (6-0).
In addition, the Orange is playing defense at a level the team hasn't reached in decades. Opponents are averaging just 15.1 points per game, which would be the fewest points allowed by the Syracuse defense since it allowed just 13.9 in 1987.
Why Notre Dame can cover
The Notre Dame defense has a pass-rushing playmaker in Isaiah Foskey. A 6-foot-5, 265-pound senior from Antioch, Calif., Foskey ranks fourth in program history in career sacks (21½), just three sacks behind leader Justin Tuck. Foskey is coming off his best game of the season, with three sacks against UNLV.
In addition, Saturday's game will pit one of the least penalized teams in the country against one of the most. Notre Dame has been whistled for just 30 penalties this season (sixth in the country) and averages just 38.1 penalty yards per game (12th). Meanwhile the Orange have drawn 67 flags (127th) and average 72.9 penalty yards per game (119th).
How to make Syracuse vs. Notre Dame picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 45 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in more than 50% of simulations. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Notre Dame vs. Syracuse? And which side of the spread hits in more than 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its college football picks, and find out.
