Notre Dame (0-0) vs Miami (FL) (0-0)
August 31, 2025 at 07:30 PM EDT
The Line: Betting Odds: Miami (FL) +2.5 — Over/Under: +49.5
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Miami Hurricanes meet in week 1 college football action from Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Miami Hurricanes prediction.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Team Preview
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish come into this game looking to finish the job in 2025 after finishing the year 14-2 and that included college football playoff wins over Indiana, Georgia and Penn State before falling to Ohio State, 34-23, in the national championship game. CJ Carr is expected to get the keys to the car for Notre Dame at QB, but thankfully, he won’t have to do it on his own as Notre Dame might have the best running back in the country in Jeremiyah Love, who averaged almost 7 yards per carry with 17 touchdowns last season and Love has a nice complimentary option in Jadarian Price, who ran for 746 yards and 7 TDs as well. Jaden Greathouse and Jordan Faison are some nice returning pieces for Notre Dame’s receiving corps as well. On defense, Notre Dame brings back Leonard Moore in the secondary after recording 48 tackles last season, while Jaylen Sneed is back in the linebacker group after recording 51 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season.
Why the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will win
- Notre Dame has won each of its last 12 games as a favorite.
- Notre Dame has covered the spread in each of its last 10 games as a favorite.
Miami Hurricanes Team Preview
The Miami Hurricanes come into the 2025 season hoping to improve on a solid 2024 season where the ‘Canes finished 10-3 overall, including 6-2 in ACC conference play. The ‘Canes would get an invite to the Pop-Tarts Bowl, a game where they’d fall to Iowa State, 42-41. Carson Beck was one of the prized QBs in the transfer portal and Miami is hoping for a clean bill of health for Beck after he got hurt in the SEC title game. The problem for Miami will be replacing all of their pass catchers, with the top six from last year no longer with the program. The ‘Canes do have a solid pair of running backs in Mark Fletcher and Jordan Lyle, who combined for over 1,000 yards and 13 TDs last season, but there’s still a lot of replacing that has to be done. On defense, Rueben Bain after being hurt in 2024, following his monster freshman season, while Ahkeem Mesidor had 5.5 sacks and 9 TFLs to lead the ‘Canes in sacks last season. Wesley Bissainthe is back after finishing second on Miami with 59 total tackles while Xavier Lucas comes in from Wisconsin to bolster Miami’s secondary.
Why the Miami Hurricanes will win
- Miami (FL) has won each of its last six games at Hard Rock Stadium.
- Miami (FL) has covered the spread in five of its last six season openers.
- Notre Dame has failed to cover the spread in three of its last four season openers as a favorite.
Total Points Facts
- Seven of Miami (FL)’s last eight games as an underdog have gone OVER the total points line.
- Seven of Notre Dame’s last eight road openers as a favorite have gone OVER the total points line.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Miami Hurricanes Prediction
I’m going to lean towards Notre Dame here. I just think we’re going to be seeing the Notre Dame revenge tour in full effect, and I don’t really trust the elbow of Carson Beck without seeing it in action first, especially against a top-tier defense like Notre Dame. I think this could be a bit of a rough outing for Beck in his Miami debut so I’ll side with the Irish here.