Notre Dame (0-0) at Louisville (0-0)
When: Monday, September 2, 2019
Where: Cardinal Stadium,
Louisville, KY
Time: 8:00 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Notre Dame -20/57.5
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish finally got back to elite by making the College Football Playoff a year go, going a perfect 12-0 in the regular season only to get embarrassed in the Cotton Bowl. The Irish begin another quest on Monday night when they visit the Louisville Cardinals to conclude Week 1 of the College Football schedule. The Irish averaged 31.4 points a game but managed just a field goal in a 30-3 loss to eventual champion Clemson and will return 13 starters from a year ago. The Cardinals begin the Scott Satterfield era after a forgettable 2-10 season and the exit of Bobby Petrino, who’s 2018 team averaged 19.8 points and surrendered 44.1 a game. Louisville started 2-1 before losing their final nine games, eight of them by 18 points or more. Satterfield arrives from Appalachian State where he was 51-24 over six seasons with 40 wins in the past four. Louisville won the only previous meeting 31-28 in Sound Bend back in 2014.
Senior quarterback Ian Book took over the starting job in the fourth game last season for Notre Dame, completing 68.2 percent of his passes with 19 touchdown passes, seven interceptions and four rushing scores as the Irish averaged 37.2 points in their last nine regular-season games. Junior Tony Jones Jr. (412 yards) and sophomore Jafar Armstrong (402 yards, seven TDs) make a pretty solid running back tandem for head coach Brian Kelly. Seniors Chase Claypool (50 catches, 639 yards in 2018) and Chris Finke (49, 571) are Book’s top targets while the defense is keyed by senior lineman Julian Okwara (eight sacks) and junior safety Alohi Gilman (94 tackles, two interceptions). Notre Dame did lose their top rusher, receiver, and tackler from a year ago.
Junior Jawon Pass will get the start a quarterback on Monday after completing 54 percent of his passes with eight TDs and 12 interceptions last year. Malik Cunningham, who led the team in rushing last year (497 yards), was slowed by a knee injury in preseason but could also see some snaps. Sophomore Hassan Hall led all running backs with 303 yards rushing as a freshman is back along with leading receiver Dez Fitzpatrick (31 catches, 422 yards). The defense was horrible, but does have experience now with 10 starters back including five of their top six tacklers from 2018.
There’s a new attitude in Louisville now as the team appeared to just give up on Petrino. Satterfield was terrific at Appalachian State and should bring more intensity and excitement to Louisville. Notre Dame tends to struggle as a big favorite and I believe the Cardinals can hang with them here.
Pick: Louisville +18
Betting Trends:
Fighting Irish are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games in September.
Cardinals are 6-19-1 ATS in their last 26 games on fieldturf.
Cardinals are 6-23 ATS in their last 29 games overall.
Cardinals are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 home games.
Cardinals are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games in September.
Cardinals are 1-11-1 ATS in their last 13 non-conference games.
Under is 7-3 in Fighting Irish last 10 games on fieldturf.
Over is 7-1 in Cardinals last 8 games overall.
Over is 6-1 in Cardinals last 7 games on fieldturf.
Over is 4-1 in Cardinals last 5 home games.
Under is 7-3 in Cardinals last 10 non-conference games.
