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College GameDay Podcast makes pick for Notre Dame at Pittsburgh

Untitled design (2)by: Sam Gillenwater11/13/25samdg_33
Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman, Pittsburgh HC Pat Narduzzi
Michael Clubb | South Bend Tribuen | USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images - Charles LeClaire | Imagn Images

‘College GameDay’ will be on site on Saturday morning ahead of No. 9 Notre Dame vs. No. 22 Pittsburgh, in a game with big implications for the CFP. With that, ESPN’s Rece Davis and Pete Thamel, not usually ones to make selections on the show, have since made their picks public for the game between the Fighting Irish and the Panthers.

On the ‘College GameDay Podcast’ on Wednesday, Davis and Thamel shared those picks for the Top-25 matchups they’ll be at this weekend. Davis began by noting the line for this one, with BetMGM having seen the spread move to -12.5 in favor of the Fighting Irish after they’d opened as favorites of -10.5.

“That line has gotten pretty lofty,” said Davis.

Thamel made his selection first, going with a win for Notre Dame but a cover by Pitt. It’s a game that features what he said were “two of the more promising quarterbacks in all of college football” in CJ Carr and Mason Heintschel, but Thamel thought the game would just be yucky enough for a close loss by the Panthers.

“I think it’s a grind-it-out, kind of nasty, Steel City day, and Notre Dame has enough push to win…I don’t think there’ll be a lot of points. But, yeah, I’m just not going to bet against Jeremiyah Love,” said Thamel. “So, we’re going to say the Irish, but just by a field goal. I do (say Pittsburgh covers), yeah.”

Davis then went with the same winner in the Irish, but wasn’t as sure, pending where the line finally lands, about a cover there for the Panthers. He does think Notre Dame is the better team here, but does think an upset could be here if, especially early, Pittsburgh can wreak enough havoc defensively.

“If it’s -11.5, I would tend to agree with you. I don’t think it’s going to be that close,” said Davis. “I think Notre Dame’s defense has improved from what we saw early in the season. I think there’ll be a lot of emotion on Pittsburgh’s side. I also think that there is a possibility – not that Notre Dame wouldn’t be locked in given the fact that they have no margin for error. But, if they weren’t, then Narduzzi probably made sure of it by sort of saying the game doesn’t matter – well, think it doesn’t matter, let me show you what matters.”

“I think Notre Dame wins the game because they’re the better team. But, but, a young quarterback against Narduzzi’s defense and the pressure that they can create, and the fact that they can stop the run does give me a little bit of pause. This is a dangerous situation if Notre Dame either squanders opportunities or gives up a bunch of negative plays early, whether sacks or turnovers,” Davis said. “I would watch early to see how quickly CJ gets settled in between what will be an inspired defense and one that is always creative in getting to the quarterback. I’m going to take Notre Dame to win the game, but I do think it is a real danger spot for the Irish.”

Regardless of how much importance this is being put on this one at Pitt, this is pretty close to a playoff game for both the Fighting Irish and the Panthers. That has these analysts ready to get there for kickoff this weekend at Acrisure Stadium.

“Should be great theater,” said Davis.

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