In a perfect world we’ll have college football go off without a hitch and games will be played in front of full crowds starting at the end of August. Now is that likely or realistic? Not so much but until we’re told otherwise we’re still left with the task of predicting how this college football season will go.
We’ve already gone over ESPN’s Football Power Index and how they see Notre Dame not only losing three games but more specifically, having very little chance against three different opponents in 2020.
Our friend Pete Fiutak over at College Football News started putting together some of his “fearless predictions”, pre-season style anyway and today offered his thoughts on Notre Dame vs. Navy in Dublin.
Nothing like putting a prediction out there for a game that seems less likely to be taking place by the day. I would argue against one point he brings up though and that’s Navy having an advantage with fewer practices. Maybe it’s just from watching their pre-season struggles in the Showtime series they were featured in a few years back but that offense doesn’t appear to hit the ground running often.
Ultimately Fiutak picks Notre Dame 34-16 in his prediction, which would be a Notre Dame cover by BetMGM’s posted line where the Irish are a 16.5 point favorite.
Odds via BetMGM. Access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated April 28, 2020 at 3:15 p.m. ET.
Notre Dame will have spots to fill with six players getting drafted and another six signing free agent deals with NFL teams over the weekend and as is always the case with the Navy game, the Irish will still have superior talent and much bigger lines on both sides of the ball.
I’m with Fiutak on Notre Dame winning this game fairly easily and think it taking place early in the season is a better thing for the Irish than the Midshipmen. I’ll also go along with him four months before the game is set to be played and say that Notre Dame will cover. For fun I’ll say 41-16.
Now let’s just hope this thing somehow is played as scheduled.
“Want to get in on the action? Place your bet now at BetMGM.”
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.