According to the best sport betting sites, Notre Dame is a huge 34-point home faves against the Ball State Cardinals. The Fighting Irish momentum is riding high following an upset of rival Michigan as three-point home dogs. They also covered the spread set by the best online sportsbooks. The 24-17 win saw Our Lady of the Lake jumped from No. 12 to No. 8. The Irish scored two touchdowns in the first eight minutes of the game. They were ahead 21-3 halfway through the second quarter. On the other hand, Ball State covered an 18.5-point spread by blowing out Central Connecticut State 42-6.
Betting Ball State
This is the first time that BSU faces Notre Dame. However, about 50 Cardinals are from Indiana. Moreover, the Ball State campus is only a couple of hours from South Bend. Sadly, playing away from home, even a short distance, has not been kind to the Cardinals. BSU has lost eight straight games on the road. That includes 55-3, 31-3, 56-14 and 63-17 losses in the past four. On the other hand, the Cardinals ended a nine-game losing streak with the win over Central Connecticut State. Additionally, Ball State established a new school record with 652 yards of total offense. QB Riley Neal and running back James Gilbert returned from injury for the season opener.
Neal went 23 of 30 passing for 259 yards and two touchdowns. He added 37 yards on the ground and one rushing touchdown. Gilbert had 100 yards and a touchdown on 14 attempts. Running back Caleb Huntley had 73 yards on eight carries. And Malik Dunner posted 100 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on nine totes. “We’ve been waiting for this night as a team,” head coach Mike Neu said. “Our players have been champing at the bit since really the end of last season.”
Betting Notre Dame
Starting QB Brandon Wimbush showed he can move up the chains. Even after losing two starting offensive linemen to the NFL draft. Wimbush completed 12 of 22 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown. He added while 59 rushing yards on 19 carries. Head coach Brian Kelly could leave Wimbush in against BSU longer than he’s accustomed. As opposed to the Citrus Bowl, when Kelly pulled him out. Wimbush could use a strong senior season to up his NFL draft stock.
Notre Dame has won eight of their last 10 home games. And even the two losses were close affairs, decided by a combined margin of four points. The Irish have won their last six home contests by an average of 19.33 points per game. Notre Dame’s secondary has held eight of their last nine opposing schools to 20 points or fewer. The Iris did not allow Michigan an offensive touchdown until late in the fourth. Also, they limited the Wolverines to 58 rushing yards. A superb debut for new defensive coordinator Clark Lea.
Ball State Cardinals vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish NCAA Football Week 2 Betting
- Date: September 8
- Time: 3:30 ET
- Venue: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
Lines from Intertops.eu:
- Ball State +34½ (-110) 62½ (-110) +8500
- Notre Dame -34½ (-110) 62½ (-110) -23000
Betting Trends
- Ball State is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games
- Ball State is 1-9 SU in its last 10 games
- Ball State is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
- Notre Dame is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 games
- Notre Dame is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
- Notre Dame is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games
Our Prediction: As long as the Fighting Irish don’t rest on their laurels, they should win and even cover the 34-point spread set by the best legal sport betting sites.
