Early Notre Dame vs Georgia Point Spread Sees Irish Getting Two Touchdowns
- No. 7 Notre Dame is 2-0 this season with wins over Louisville and New Mexico.
- No. 3 Georgia is 3-0 with wins over Vanderbilt, Murray State and Arkansas State.
- The Fighting Irish are 3-17 in their last 20 as a dog of 10.5 to 21 points.
One week after we had no Top 25 matchups, we’re going to have a Top 10 matchup in primetime on Saturday night. No. 7 Notre Dame will take on No. 3 Georgia but the oddsmakers don’t see this game as close. The Bulldogs are a whopping 14-point favorite. Which side is the best bet here?
Notre Dame vs Georgia Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish | +14 (-105) | +445 | Over 56 (-110) |
| Georgia Bulldogs | -14 (-115) | -550 | Under 56 (-110) |
*Odds taken 09/17/19
How Good Are The Fighting Irish?
The Fighting Irish are still a bit of a question mark this season. Sure, they pummelled a weak New Mexico team last week but their Week 1 win at Louisville seems to be more telling. The Irish did win comfortably – 35-17 – but it feels like that may not have been enough. It was a one-score game late into the third quarter.
Beyond that, we’ve seen Notre Dame struggle against teams like Georgia – the best of the best – in the past. Last year, they were crushed 30-3 by Clemson in the College Football Playoff. In 2017, their three losses were to teams ranked either No. 21 or better – including Georgia, whom they lost to at home.
The Fighting Irish have a good team but are they good enough? Can they go on the road with a veteran quarterback and pull out a win in a hostile environment? It seems that the oddsmakers are telling us a clear ‘no’.
Can They Compete at The Line of Scrimmage?
The key to beating Georgia is winning in the trenches, but it’s a big question mark if Notre Dame can do that. Nobody has been near Jake Fromm this season as he’s playing behind one of the best offensive lines in the country. However, Notre Dame already has 12 sacks after registering just 24 last season.
On the other side of the ball, can the Irish get their ground game going? Georgia isn’t allowing anything but if Notre Dame can break through and combine that with Book’s game management behind center, they can control this game on the road.
What’s The Best Bet?
Looking at the flow of money in the Notre Dame vs Georgia odds, the bettors are telling us a lot. The Irish had a better team last year and they still didn’t quite measure up in the College Football Playoff. Georgia shows up for these games and they execute very well. We’re not sure about Notre Dame.
While this is supposed to be a close matchup on paper, the oddsmakers have the difference between these two teams at two touchdowns. Notre Dame has a nice team but Georgia has elite-level talent and they’re at home.
Jake Fromm is playing like a Top 15 NFL Draft pick, the offensive line has first-rounders and running back D’Andre Swift is explosive. The only way Notre Dame can hang with this type of team is if they force turnovers or they can run the ball.
Georgia is the more talented, more explosive, and more tested team. They execute well in these scenarios and they’re at home. I expect them to win and cover.
For over 15 years, Dave has been working in mainstream media and sports betting. He hosted a station on Sirius Satellite Radio for four years, and is currently a senior writer for AskMen. He's interviewed hundreds of hundreds of high-profile sports stars like Shaquille O'Neal and Floyd Mayweather.
