Midshipmen (4-8 last season) vs. Fighting Irish (9-4 last year)
Navy Midshipmen vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish August 26, 2023 — The Fighting Irish offense maintained an average of 396.0 yards per game last year, positioning them in the middle tier. They employed a well-rounded strategy, achieving an average of 207.1 passing yards and 188.9 rushing yards per game. This approach led to an average of 31.8 points per matchup, resulting in a 42nd rank in the NCAA. Over the season, Drew Pyne demonstrated a completion rate of 64.6%, along with 22 touchdown passes and a mere six interceptions. Regarding rushing, Logan Diggs outpaced Audric Estime by 165 carries, with Estime assuming the lead role and carrying the ball 920 times. Estime secured the most touchdowns with 11, and Chris Tyree from the Irish reached a double-digit carry count.
Despite the appointment of a new head coach, there is no expectation of a shift in the Navy’s offensive strategy. They held the fourth spot nationally with an average of 241.2 yards per game, predominantly relying on their running game. Their passing game ranked among the lowest, with an average of just 85.8 yards per game. The Midshipmen had one of the lower scoring averages among all collegiate football teams, averaging 21.9 points per game. Fullback Dabo Fofana was the team’s primary rusher throughout the season, amassing 186 carries, 769 yards, and six touchdowns.
Navy Midshipmen vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Game Info
Time: 2:30 PM ET.
Date: Saturday, August 26, 2023
Location: Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland
TV: NBC
Midshipmen QB Xavier Arline and Fighting Irish QB Tyler Buchner
Xavier Arline boasts a perfect 1/1 scoring record overall, achieving 25 passing yards. He concluded the game without throwing any interceptions and ended with an impressive quarterback rating of 640. Analyzing the statistics, the Midshipmen encountered difficulties halting the run, surrendering 125 yards on 48 attempts, equivalent to 2.6 yards per rushing attempt. Navy allowed just 2 completed passes out of 12 attempts, resulting in a completion percentage of 16.7%, allowing 28 passing yards. Their offensive plays totaled 61, accumulating 284 yards by the end of the game. In the grand scheme, the Navy Midshipmen executed 57 rushing attempts for 259 yards, averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
In their recent gridiron match, the Fighting Irish won against the South Carolina Gamecocks with a score of 45-38. Tyler Buchner played a significant role, delivering 3 touchdowns and completing 18 out of 33 passes for 273 yards, earning a quarterback rating of 135.9. He did face 3 interceptions but maintained an average of 8.3 yards per attempt. Notably, Audric Estime of Notre Dame carried the ball 14 times, accumulating 95 yards and achieving an average of 6.8 yards per carry.
Odds/Point Spread: Navy Midshipmen +20.5, Total Odds: 48.5
There is a high confidence level in Sam Hartman’s ability to elevate the team’s offense to new heights this season, even though the point spread might seem a bit exaggerated. Hartman will have the golden opportunity to win the support of Fighting Irish fans from the outset, showcasing his skills in a favorable matchup against a weak aerial defense. Except for their most recent encounter, Notre Dame has secured victories with a margin of 20 points or more in their last three games.
Head coach Marcus Freeman believes that if Hartman can quickly adapt and find his rhythm within the system, he will have more chances to display his talents. Over the past four years, Notre Dame has consistently scored at least 34 points against Navy, and there’s a belief that their offense might be even more potent this year.
Navy Midshipmen Betting Trends
- The Midshipmen are 6-3 ATS in their last 9 games with the Fighting Irish.
- The Navy Midshipmen are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games against Notre Dame.
- The Navy is 2-11 SU in their last 13 games against an Independents (FBS) conference opponent.
- The Navy Midshipmen are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games played in August.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Betting Trends
- The total went OVER in 9 of Notre Dame’s last 12 games against Navy.
- Notre Dame is 7-1 SU in their last 8 games against an opponent in the American Athletic Conference.
- The Notre Dame Fighting Irish is 8-2 SU in their last 10 games in week 1.
- The total went OVER in 6 of Notre Dame’s last 6 games played on a Saturday.
Navy Midshipmen vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Betting Trends
Navy Midshipmen vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish: The Notre Dame Fighting Irish began the previous season with consecutive losses; however, they regrouped and managed to secure victory in nine out of their last 11 games under the leadership of first-year head coach Marcus Freeman. Adding to their arsenal, the Fighting Irish acquired Sam Hartman, the Wake Forest QB who recorded 38 touchdown passes in the previous season, aiming to enhance an offense that ranked in the lower half (207.1 ypg) in passing performance. Notably, the offensive line of Notre Dame is recognized as one of the premier units in college football and will primarily rely on the rushing prowess of RB Audric Estime, who amassed an impressive 920 yards.
Navy possesses the necessary talent to contend for an American Athletic Conference Championship, while Notre Dame could potentially be in the running for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Recent seasons have shown that service academies performing as underdogs by two touchdowns or more have yielded substantial profits. Therefore, it’s suggested to consider siding with the Midshipmen and the points. In my estimation, the final score prediction favors the Notre Dame Fighting Irish with a 31-20 victory.
Free Pick and Prediction: Notre Dame Fighting Irish will win 31-20.
