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Pamela Maldonado
Week 1 delivers one of the most intriguing games of the season as Notre Dame travels to face Miami as a matchup of steady hands versus wild cards. Notre Dame enters with a proven foundation, returning one of the nation’s most complete rosters, a top-five rushing attack and a defense loaded with veteran depth.
Miami, on the other hand, is banking on making a splash. Georgia transfer Carson Beck takes over at QB after recovering from a UCL injury, working with a rebuilt receiver room with promising young talent. On the other side of the ball, the Hurricanes’ defense is breaking in a new staff.
Whether they can keep pace against Notre Dame’s pound-for-pound power and playoff-tested defense will determine if the Canes can pull off the upset or if the Fighting Irish’s experience prevails.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Miami Hurricanes
Sunday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Opening Line: Notre Dame -2.5, O/U 50.5
Money line: Notre Dame (-140), Miami (+120)
Over/Under: 50.5 (O Even, U -120)
Why Miami can cover
If you like the Hurricanes, then you are trusting upside over stability. Notre Dame is the more complete team on paper, but Miami could have the explosiveness to make this a four-quarter game. Beck brings experience while the talent around him is intriguing. Sophomore Joshisa Trader and freshman Malachi Toney could emerge as the playmakers in this group, while transfer CJ Daniels brings experience to help bridge the gap left by losing their top five receivers from last year.
Miami’s path to covering starts up front. Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain Jr. give the Hurricanes a disruptive pass-rush to build from (nine combined sacks last year), and against a redshirt freshman quarterback making his first road start in CJ Carrearly pressure matters. If Miami forces Notre Dame to lean on Carr instead of its backfield, the Irish offense becomes less comfortable.
Defensively, new coordinator Corey Hetherman brings an aggressive scheme from Minnesota, where his group finished sixth in total defense last season and more importantly, fourth in touchdowns allowed, giving up just one more score than the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes. That approach combined with Miami’s speed on the edges could help contain Notre Dame’s run-heavy attack enough to keep the game competitive.
Notre Dame’s defense will make things difficult, but Beck’s SEC experience and the Canes’ defensive front give them a shot to trade possessions and force a high-leverage fourth quarter.
Betting prediction: Notre Dame -2.5 
This is a wager on continuity and depth against a Miami team with more questions than answers. Marcus Freeman enters his fifth season having led the Irish to the national title game last season, and his roster returns proven talent on both offense and defense. Year 2 under offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock is where this system should fully click, with sharper timing, expanded play designs and more balance between the run and pass.
Notre Dame’s formula is clear. With Billy Schrärth and Ashton Craig anchoring one of the best offensive lines in the country, the Irish averaged 5.7 yards per carry last season. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price combined for more than 1,800 yards and 24 touchdowns, and now Aneyas Williams and Kedren Young add even more depth. Notre Dame’s physicality up front gives them the edge to dictate tempo and shorten possessions. It’s potentially the best rushing offense in the country.
On defense, Notre Dame’s elite secondary led by Leonard Moore and Christian Gray is a major mismatch against a Miami receiving corps still being rebuilt. The Fighting Irish forced 19 interceptions last season, fourth most in the FBS. New defensive coordinator Chris Ash inherits a deep, versatile unit with speed, and one of the nation’s best linebacker groups. If Beck’s 12-interception trend from last season shows up (nine in a four-game span), Notre Dame has the personnel to capitalize.
Miami has talent, but between a new quarterback, a reworked receiver room, and an entirely new defensive staff, there is too much volatility to trust them early. Notre Dame’s experience and structure make them the more reliable side.
Bonus play
Game total UNDER 50.5 : Lower scoring makes sense with Notre Dame leaning on its run game to control tempo and limit possessions. If Beck struggles against Notre Dame’s secondary, Miami’s scoring potential takes a significant hit.
