Two schools that prefer to run the football, Coach Brian Kelly and the No. 16 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-18) are set to host the Virginia Tech Hokies at Notre Dame Stadium. This crucial afternoon game is scheduled to get going at 2:30 p.m. ET and fans can catch it live by tuning in to NBC.
Betting Preview: Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Virginia Tech is a big road underdog in this matchup and is currently getting 18 points. The Hokies are also receiving +800 moneyline odds while the Fighting Irish are -1450. Vegas has determined the over/under (O/U) to be 57.5 points. There should be multiple decent live betting opportunities for this matchup.
This game’s line opened at -17, while the O/U has not moved since being initially placed at 57.5.
The Hokies have gained 3.4 units so far and are 2-4 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an O/U record of 4-2.
The Fighting Irish are up 0.9 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 4-3 ATS and have an O/U record of 3-4.
The Hokies are 5-2 straight up (SU) in 2019 while the Fighting Irish are also 5-2 SU.
The Hokies continue to ride high after a 43-41 victory over North Carolina on October 19. the Hokies completed 14-of-21 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns. Hendon Hooker went eight-for-12 for 127 yards and one touchdown while Quincy Patterson II completed three-of-six for 54 yards and one touchdown. Quincy Patterson II (122 rushing yards on 21 attempts, one TD) and Deshawn McClease (72 yards on 13 carries, one TD) led the running attack in the win while Tre Turner (five receptions, 106 yards, one TD) and Damon Hazelton (three catches, 43 yards, two TDs) manned the receiving duties.
Notre Dame just suffered a 45-14 loss to Michigan. The defensive unit let the Wolverines kill the clock by rushing for 303 yards on 57 attempts, including three rush TDs. Hassan Haskins had a good outing, posting 149 rushing yards on 20 attempts for Michigan. For Notre Dame, Ian Book completed eight-of-25 passes for 73 yards and one touchdown. Tony Jones Jr (14 rushing yards on eight attempts) led the ground game in the defeat as Chase Claypool (two receptions, 42 yards) and Javon McKinley (two catches, 42 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps.
Virginia Tech has run the ball on 62.6 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Notre Dame has an overall rush percentage of 53.7 percent. The Hokies have rushed for 175.1 yards/game and have 10 scores via handoffs this year. The Irish are putting up 168.3 rushing yards per game and have 13 total rush TDs.
The Hokies offensive scheme has logged 220 yards/contest in the air overall and has 17 passing scores so far. The Irish have recorded 243.6 pass yards per game and have 18 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Virginia Tech has let opponents rush for an average of 145.3 yards and pass for 250.9 yards per game. The Notre Dame defense has allowed 186.4 yards per game to opposing passers and 172.7 yards per game on the ground. The Irish are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.69 to opponents, while the Hokies have given up a 5.83 ANY/A.
Offensively, Hooker is up to 319 passing yards this season, and has connected on 19-of-34 attempts with four scores through the air and has yet to throw an interception. He’s got a pristine 10.72 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 11.15 over the last two outings.
In the other locker room, Ian Book has completed 99-of-164 passes for 1,327 yards, 14 TDs and two INTs. Book’s ANY/A stands at 8.45 for the year and 4.66 over his last two games.
When these two programs met a year ago, Notre Dame won easily 45-23.
Virginia Tech Hokies at Notre Dame Fighting Irish NCAA Tip
SU Winner: Notre Dame, ATS Winner: Notre Dame, O/U: Under
Betting Trends
- Each team has produced five pass plays of 40+ yards. The Hokies have have made 10 pass plays of 30+ yards while the Fighting Irish have accounted for 12 such plays.
- The Virginia Tech defense has allowed seven pass plays of 40+ yards, while Notre Dame has given up two such plays.
- Both defenses have produced 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards. The Virginia Tech offense has recorded 36 running plays of 10+ yards while Notre Dame has accounted for 38 such plays.
- The Hokies defense has allowed 14 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Fighting Irish have given up 11 such runs.
- The Virginia Tech defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 25 times this season. Notre Dame has registered 20 sacks.
- As a team, Virginia Tech has averaged 4.4 yards per carry across its past three outings and 4.8 over its last two.
- Notre Dame has averaged 5.2 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 4.5 over its last two.
- In its last three games, Notre Dame is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Virginia Tech’s previous game going into it was 57. The over cashed in the team’s 43-41 victory over North Carolina.
- The Over/Under for Notre Dame’s last matchup was set at 47.5. The over cashed in the 45-14 loss to Michigan.
- Virginia Tech has won six of its last seven games SU, with a 35-point defeat to Duke on September 27th accounting for the only loss over that stretch.
