NCAA Football
2021-09-25 - Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Wisconsin Badgers
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : College Football Week 4
Saturday 25th September 2021 - Scheduled 12pm
5pm (British Time)
Preview
After the Covid-19 pandemic forced the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3-0) to join the ACC for a single season, they are back playing as an Independent in 2021. The big news out of the SEC that the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners will be joining their Conference in the years ahead means there may be more pressure for the Fighting Irish to join one of their own and give themselves the best opportunity to earn College Football PlayOff spots going forward.
It may not matter so much if the PlayOff is expanded like many believe it will be, but the pressure is on the Fighting Irish to negotiate what is usually a very difficult schedule to earn their place in the post-season. Without a Championship Game, the schedule strength ends up being dictated by how well their opponents do, while one defeat is very difficult to overcome.
So far, so good for Notre Dame this season with three wins and the most impressive of those came last week against the Purdue Boilermakers. That has to be encouraging for the Fighting Irish, although they are going to be playing a Wisconsin Badgers (1-1) team coming in off a Bye and with plenty of preparation for this game likely to have taken place.
Wisconsin have dropped a game to the Penn State Nittany Lions already this season, but they will know they can redeem themselves by winning the Big Ten West Division and ultimately the Conference Championship in December. Losing another game before then will likely end their PlayOff hopes in all likelihood though and that puts pressure on the Badgers in this neutral field meeting.
Soldier Field is not that far away from either campus though and that should mean an intense atmosphere in which the players can perform.
One more than most will be looking for a big day- Jack Coan is the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Quarter Back and he transferred across from the Wisconsin Badgers so there should be plenty of motivation in his mind to produce for his new team. There wasn't an acrimonious departure from Wisconsin to pump him up all the more, but Jack Coan will want to show his friends and former team-mates what he can do.
He has played well for the Fighting Irish and has thrown 8 Touchdown passes with 2 Interceptions, but Jack Coan will be keen to have more support from the run game. That looks a big ask this week against the Wisconsin Defensive Line which has been pretty stout in the first two games played, but Coan should have the knowledge to make some plays through the air and give the Fighting Irish the opportunity to secure the upset.
It has been a more difficult start to the season for Graham Mertz who has taken over from Coan as the Wisconsin starting Quarter Back. His numbers have not really impressed and this is as good a Defensive unit as he would have faced, but Graham Mertz may be able to lean on his running game to at least put the Badgers in a position to try and move above 0.500 for the season.
This battle in the trenches will be a big determining factor as to how the game will go and I do think the Fighting Irish will be looking to pick up from where they left off against the Purdue Boilermakers. That was the best all around performance of the season from Notre Dame and I do think this is a team that will feel they can earn a PlayOff spot and that means winning in Wisconsin.
If the Fighting Irish can at least restrict the Badgers on the ground, their powerful pass rush may make the difference and Notre Dame certainly feel like they are being underestimated here.
The Badgers are a team that have played really well coming out of a Bye Week and I do think that makes them dangerous. However, they are 2-5 against the spread in their last seven when set as the favourite and they are 1-6 against the spread when favoured on a neutral field.
Notre Dame are 6-2 against the spread in their last eight games on a neutral field, while they have covered the last three times they have been set as the underdog. I think there are enough points for the Fighting Irish to keep this one close in what should be a Defensive battle and Jack Coan may be the player that makes the difference for them in a potential upset.
Prediction
Take the points with the underdog.
The Pick :
Wisconsin Badgers 20-23 Notre Dame
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Notre Dame Fighting Irish + 6.5 Points at -115 with Bovada Sportsbook
