The second full weekend of the college football schedule features a handful of quality no-conference contests, with one of those taking place in the state of North Carolina. The #10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-0) travel to Raleigh, North Carolina, to battle the NC State Wolfpack (1-0) for just the fourth time in the two school’s histories.
NC State owns a 2-1 record against the Fighting Irish, their last meeting coming in 2017 when Notre Dame defeated the Wolfpack, 35-14, in South Bend, Indiana. The previous two meetings were won by NC State, once in 2003 and again in 2016.
Looking at the college football stats, Notre Dame opened up the season two weeks ago when the Fighting Irish dismantled the Navy Midshipmen, 42-3, across the pond in Ireland. The Irish followed that up last week with a 56-3 thumping of Tennessee State and have outscored their opponents 98-6 over the first two contests.
The NC State Wolfpack have had extended time to prepare for the Fighting Irish after opening up their season last Thursday on the road against the UConn Huskies. NC State took home the hard-fought victory on the road, beating the Huskies 24-14.
Saturday’s contest kicks off at 12 p.m. EST at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Wolfpack vs. Fighting Irish odds have Notre Dame as a 7.5-point favorite and the over/under total at 51 points.
Looking at the NCAA football odds, we should be in for an exciting game! Bet on college football at BetOnline, as they have the Irish as the favorites in our Notre Dame vs NC State picks.
Top Sportsbooks Odds to Bet on NCAAF
Overall Game Info & Outlook
NC State Wolfpack vs #10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Location: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC
Date & Time: September 9th, 2023; 12 PM EST
Where to watch: ABC
#10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at NC State Wolfpack Betting Preview
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Preview
- The Fighting Irish are 4-1 against the spread over their last five contests.
- Notre Dame is 6-1 ATS in their previous seven matchups on the road.
- Against teams from the ACC, Notre Dame is 8-0 ATS over their last eight games.
You couldn’t have asked for a better start for the head coach, Marcus Freeman, and the Fighting Irish. While the schedule has been light on competition, Notre Dame has done what it has needed to do to this point and looked extremely efficient on both sides of the ball doing it.
Through two games, Wake Forest transfer Sam Hartman has been lights out under center. The sixth-year senior has completed 33 of 40 passes for 445 yards and six touchdowns to open the season. When making your NCAAF pick, keep in mind that Hartman, a North Carolina native, owns a 1-2 record against the Wolfpack.
Junior running back Audric Estime has handled most of the carries out of the backfield for Notre Dame through the first two weeks of play. Estime has carried the ball 29 times for 211 yards and a pair of scores. As a team, the Fighting Irish have rushed for 412 yards, averaging 6.3 yards per carry with five touchdowns.
Notre Dame has spread the ball around in the passing game. Still, a pair of wideouts, junior Jayden Thomas and freshman Jaden Greathouse, have been the early beneficiaries of the passing attack. Thomas leads the team with eight receptions for 125 yards and a score, while Greathouse has chipped in five catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, Notre Dame is holding opposing teams to 163.5 yards per game and has allowed only 110 yards through the air through two games.
NC State Wolfpack Preview
- The Wolfpack have covered the spread in only two of their last 11 matchups.
- In recent games played on Saturday, NC State is 1-6 ATS.
- NC State owns an 11-5 mark ATS in previous home contests.
Head coach Dave Doren is now in his tenth season as the leader of the Wolfpack, and NC State has hopes for another winning season in 2023. The year got off on the right foot with a ten-point road victory over the UConn Huskies. The Wolfpack are projected to finish near the top of the ACC standings this year.
Like the Irish, the Wolfpack will rely on a transfer quarterback under center this year. Another six-year senior, Brennan Armstrong, joined the roster after spending five seasons at the University of Virginia. When making your college football predictions, keep in mind that in his first start under center, Armstrong completed 17-of-26 throws for 155 yards and added 96 yards and two touchdowns with his legs.
If Armstong wasn’t running the ball, senior Jordan Houston was getting the rock out of the backfield. Houston rushed for 544 yards as the team’s leading rusher last season and is expected to carry even more of the load in his final year.
A pair of underclassmen shined out wide for NC State in the opener. Freshman Kevin Concepcion emerged as Armstrong’s top target, hauling in four receptions for 36 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Michael Allen added three catches for 27 yards.
The Wolfpack defense surrendered a conference-best 19.4 points per game last season, and the unit looked the part again last week, holding the Huskies offense to 273 yards of total offense and just 4-of-12 on third down conversions.
Top Sportsbooks Odds
BetOnline: Notre Dame -7.5
Bovada: Notre Dame -7.5
MyBookie: Notre Dame -7.5
BetUS: Notre Dame -7.5
BetNow: Notre Dame -7.5
#10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at NC State Wolfpack Odds & Picks
Odds for this Matchup:
Looking at the college football odds, the Fighting Irish are coming into the game as the betting favorites.
NC State Wolfpack | Notre Dame Fighting Irish |
+253 | -305 |
Recommended Pick:
When making your Notre Dame vs NC State picks, go with the Fighting Irish to cover the spread.
- Pick: #10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish -7.5 (-110)
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