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Joel Klatt picks Notre Dame to beat Texas A&M, cover spread

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh3 hours agogriffin_mcveigh
Notre Dame
Texas A&M coach Mike Elko (left) and Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman great each other ahead of last year's season opener in College Station, Texas. Chad Weaver/Blue & Gold

In what has developed into a fun home-and-home series, Notre Dame hosts the back end on Saturday against Texas A&M. Mike Elko takes his team to South Bend looking for revenge after last season’s loss in College Station. For Marcus Freeman, avoiding a second loss in as many games is critical for the Irish.

FOX’s Joel Klatt is one of the many analysts out there making a prediction on this game. The key for Klatt is Notre Dame getting the run game going, something they did not do well against Miami in the opener. Add in a good environment and it’s tough to go against the home team.

“My question is,” Klatt began, “will [Texas A&M] have enough to win on the road? I’m not totally sure about that one. I like what I saw from CJ Carr. I think Notre Dame goes back to the drawing board and they understand that getting Jeremiyah Love more involved this time is going to help CJ Carr and they’re going to clarify some of those looks he’s going to be throwing into. I think Notre Dame actually wins this game.”

Love received just 10 carries a couple of Sundays ago, gaining 63 yards. Playing from behind for most of the game certainly played a role. But in the first start of Carr’s career, surely not the recipe Freeman wanted — even if Klatt liked what he saw from the young quarterback when looking back at the tape.

However, you know Elko will be highly motivated to stop Notre Dame’s rushing attack. The Irish went for nearly 200 yards during last year’s game, 91 of which is credited to Love for an average of 6.5 YPC. Quarterback Riley Leonard then made some big plays, ultimately being the difference in the result. One where the difference of 10 points may not tell the whole story.

But in the mind of some people, the final score absolutely does matter. Notre Dame enters around a touchdown favorite, a number Klatt believes will be covered by the time zeros are on the clock.

“I do think this game could be tight,” Klatt said. “I’m a fan of Mike Elko and I’m a fan of Texas A&M. I think that’s a good football team, I don’t think it’s a great football team. Where I think Notre Dame could be a great football team. I’m taking the Irish and I think they cover the 6.5.”