College Football Free Pick: Notre Dame vs Stanford
Scott Morris | November 25, 2017
Thanksgiving weekend college football continues on Saturday with a matchup between two top 20 ranked teams when the No. 9 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish visit the No. 20 ranked Stanford Cardinal. The current line on top sportsbooks has Notre Dame favored by 2.5 points with the over/under point total on 56.5.
Entering this game, Notre Dame on the season is 9-2 straight up and 7-4 against the spread. On the road, the Fighting Irish are 3-1 SU and ATS. Stanford on the season is 8-3 SU and 4-6-1 ATS. At home, the Cardinal are 5-0 SU and 3-2 ATS.
Notre Dame must win and get help from other teams if it hopes to return to the top four in the rankings for the College Football Playoff. A win on the road versus a ranked opponent would help.
Notre Dame suffered a devastating loss against Miami 41-8, but last week bounced back with a strong 24-10 win over a tough Navy team. A spot in a bowl on New Year’s Day could be in the making for the Irish at the least.
Stanford has a chance to win the North title of the Pac-12 and reach the championship game for the conference following its 17-14 defeat of California. The Cardinal are also looking to play in a New Year’s Day bowl game. Stanford lost two of its first three but has won seven of its last eight.
Notre Dame running back Josh Adams can break the school’s single season rushing record with 101 yards on the ground Saturday. He is now fifth in career rushing for the Irish with one season remaining, if he does not opt to move on to the NFL.
Bryce Love is Stanford’s star running back who is second in the nation with 1,723 rushing yards. Love rushed for 101 yards last week including a 57-yard scamper for a score. He has had ankle problems that have bothered him the past month.
Notre Dame wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown is questionable for the game due to being in concussion protocol.
Stanford can win the North division of the Pac-12 with a win and if Washington can beat Washington State Saturday night.
Stanford has won two straight against Notre Dame, with the past five games all decided by seven points or fewer.
Notre Dame is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games after winning straight up.
Stanford is 3-1-1 ATS in its last 5 games versus a team with a record above .500.
With this free pick, we like Stanford to cover.
