Air Force Falcons at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-15), Total 55.5 |
Air Force is completing a stretch of back-to-back road games this week at Notre Dame after playing at Navy last weekend. The Falcons picked up a 35-34 win over the Midshipmen as three-point road underdogs in that particular contest.
Offensively, the team is third nationally in rushing with a 364.5 average, while Notre Dame ranks 19th in the country against the run, allowing just 91.2 yards a contest. It’s also important to note that Air Force averages 38.5 points per game while Notre Dame allows just 18.6 per contest.
Air Force and Notre Dame will be meeting for the 29th time, with the Falcons trailing the series by a 22-6 margin, including a 10-4 disparity in South Bend. Interestingly enough, the team came away with a 41-24 win in its last opportunity on this field in 2007 as four-point favorites.
Under current head coach Troy Calhoun, Air Force is 16-7 against non-conference opponents, including wins in six straight and nine of the last 10.
Bettors will find that the team has covered its only opportunity as a 14.5 to 17-point underdog over the last two-plus seasons.
Notre Dame has won three consecutive games after starting the season 0-2, including a 38-10 win over Purdue last week as 11-point road favorites. The Fighting Irish are led by sophomore quarterback Tommy Rees, who has thrown a touchdown pass in 10 straight games.
Offensively, the team really concentrated on generating a ground attack versus the Boilermakers, coming away with 287 rushing yards. Cierre Wood led the charge with 191 rushing yards.
The Fighting Irish defense has become one of the country’s top units, allowing 13 points or less in each of their last three games. Notre Dame has not accomplished that feat since 1989 when finishing No. 1 in the nation.
Many will attribute last week’s dominant performance to not turning the ball over, as it was the team’s first game without a turnover all season. Head coach Brian Kelly is 110-12 when winning that battle.
college football betting may lay off backing the Irish due to their 5-14 ATS mark as a favorite, while the ‘under’ is 14-7 over that span.
