Notre Dame vs Stanford Betting Preview
The Stanford Cardinal have locked up a spot in the Pac-12 championship with the Oregon Ducks’ loss last weekend, but there’s still rankings and bragging rights on the line this week against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
No. 25 Notre Dame (8-3) @ No. 8 Stanford (9-2, 7-2 Pac-12)
Saturday, Nov. 30 7:00 PM ET @ Stanford Stadium
Spread: Stanford -14.5
O/U: 49
[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
ATS Matchup Stats | *INSIDER* Gambling Insight!
Check out our in-house Handicapper!!! Buy Razor Ray’s NCAA FOOTBALL Picks Today!
This matchup marks just the fourth time that both teams are ranked entering the contest.
*CLICK HERE* GRAB OUR BEST Expert College FOOTBALL Picks for 2013 GAMBLING season!
Last season saw Notre Dame win in overtime, but the Cardinal have won three of the last four meetings.
Notre Dame
When it comes to Notre Dame, a strong start is going to be important. Stanford isn’t the type of team that’s going to strike quickly, but avoiding a deficit late is going to be crucial, seeing as how Stanford’s offense and defense will both grind you down throughout a 60-minute showdown.
The player to watch for the Fighting Irish is Tommy Rees. In last season’s matchup with Stanford, Everett Golson struggled mightily early in the game.
When he went out with a concussion, it became a blessing in disguise, as Rees played an efficient game and led his team to victory.
Notre Dame is 8-3 in its last 11 battles with Stanford, but don’t bank on history as the No. 1 factor in previewing this season’s matchup.
[soliloquy id=”82219″]
Stanford is a top-10 team, and while the Fighting Irish have been solid, they’re far from the championship team they were a year ago.
Stanford
Stanford has one thing on the line in this one: bragging rights. The team is already slated to face Arizona State in the Pac-12 title game, and the winner of that game will earn a spot in the Rose Bowl as its coveted prize.
A win against Notre Dame will mean momentum when it counts, which has to be the goal for Stanford come Saturday.
The other aspect of pride to take into consideration is revenge. Stanford lost a close battle last season, and don’t think that won’t be on the minds of the Cardinal coaching staff and the players who were a part of that group.
If the Cardinal can do two things, they’ll be in good shape. First and foremost, run with power.
That’s what has led this team to success all season, and that’s what will be a catalyst to victory in Week 14.
Oppositely, look for this team to dominate the line defensively. Stopping the run will force Notre Dame to become one-dimensional, and if that ends up being the case, you’re looking at a Stanford team with a huge advantage.
Prediction: Stanford 33 – Notre Dame 17
