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Stanford vs Notre Dame Odds, Spread and Predictions

David Rooney

by David Rooney in College Football

Updated Nov 25, 2021 · 5:41 AM PST

Kyren Williams skips in to end zone
Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams (23) runs during the first half of an NCAA college football game after the game, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
  • Stanford hosts Notre Dame on Saturday, November 27th at 8:00 pm EST on FOX
  • Notre Dame, with a 10-1 record, is heavily favored to win this matchup
  • Read below for Stanford vs Notre Dame odds, game preview and prediction

This weekend, Notre Dame will travel to California to face Stanford in Week 13 of the college football season. The Fighting Irish (10-1) are ranked fifth in the country and are currently favored by 20.5 points against the Stanford Cardinal (3-8).

Will Notre Dame cruise to an easy victory and pad their college football playoff resume, or will Stanford keep the game close and maybe even win outright to help salvage an otherwise forgettable season?

Notre Dame vs Stanford Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Notre Dame Fighting Irish -19.5 (-120) -1125 Over 52.5 (-115)
Stanford Cardinal +19.5 (+100) +700 Under 52.5 (-105)

Odds as of November 25th at DraftKings

Stanford’s Problematic Defense

Stanford’s questionable defense will cause problems for them against Notre Dame. So far this season, Stanford has allowed 34 points to Washington State, 52 points to Utah, 28 points to USC, 35 points to UCLA, and 35 points to Oregon State.

While Stanford has a quality pass defense, they have some significant issues with their run defense, allowing an average of more than 240 yards on the ground per game. Expect one of two things to happen: Kyren Williams will have a career night, or Jack Coan and the passing game will have opportunities for some easy completions and yards after the catch as Stanford sells out to pack the box to try and stop the run, which may or may not be futile anyways.

Look for Coan, an experienced starter who has played in 33 games to this point in his career, to protect the football and play a game manager role, completing timely passes, especially on third downs, to move the chains and let the running game get to work.

Stanford, meanwhile, will not be able to control time of possession with their 126th-ranked rushing attack that averages only 89 yards per game on the ground. In terms of rushing defense, Notre Dame is ranked 41st in the nation, allowing an average of 133.6 yards per game. 

This will leave Stanford relying on their passing game to have any hopes of winning.

Can Notre Dame Cover a Large Spread?

Notre Dame should definitely win this game against an inferior opponent, the question is, how convincingly will they win? I don’t think this is going to be a particularly close game, as Notre Dame should put this one away pretty quickly and then add some style points to look good for the committee in their quest for one of the four spots in the College Football playoff.

 

As far as the spread, Notre Dame is currently favored by nearly three touchdowns. I’m usually pretty skeptical of larger spreads and the backdoor cover is always a risk if Brian Kelly’s squad takes their foot off the gas late in the game, but with the Fighting Irish currently sitting at #5 in the CFP rankings, I don’t anticipate them letting up at any time throughout this game.

If they don’t run up the score and another team in the top seven does, the Irish could find themselves penalized by the committee, so expect Coan and company to keep their foot on the gas and never let up until the final whistle.

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