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Notre Dame

Notre Dame football score predictions: Fighting Irish vs. Navy national picks

IMG_7504by: Jack Soble10/25/24jacksoble56
xavier watts-4
Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts. (John Crothers, special to Blue & Gold)

Notre Dame takes on Navy at noon ET on Saturday in East Rutherford, N.J. Against the spread, most national college football writers actually like the Midshipmen.

Here’s what the experts are saying about Notre Dame’s Week 9 matchup with Navy.

Bleacher Report: Notre Dame 27, Navy 21

“Extending drives will likely be a critical factor in this matchup. Both offenses want to run the ball. Notre Dame’s third-down defense is elite, and Navy’s has been excellent save for a high-scoring win over Memphis. I’ll lean toward ND’s collective talent, but this is a genuine test for the Irish.” — David Kenyon

Source: College Football 2024: Week 9 Predictions for Every Game

ESPN: Navy +13.5

“An underrated aspect contributing to Navy’s offensive success is its significant advantage in net field position (+6.2, ranked 12th), a crucial factor in the matchup with Notre Dame . Navy consistently starts drives in better positions due to effective special teams play and defensive stops. Strong performances in punting, kickoffs and returns allow Navy to begin offensive drives with favorable field position, while also pinning opponents deep. Additionally, Navy’s defense forces turnovers (second in turnover margin) and makes critical stops, further shifting field position in its favor.

“Simply put, better starting field position increases scoring opportunities by shortening the distance to the end zone. By consistently starting drives in advantageous positions, Navy can apply pressure on Notre Dame’s defense, potentially leading to mistakes or breakdowns on the Irish side. Superior field position allows Navy to control the game’s tempo, manage the clock effectively and dictate the flow of play.” — Pamela Maldonado

Source: Betting Notre Dame-Navy: Pace, field position key for Midshipmen

The Athletic

  • David Ubben: Navy +12.5
  • Austin Mock: Navy +12.5
  • Chris Vannini: Navy +12.5
  • Dan Santaromita: Navy +12.5

“As good as Notre Dame has been running the football, you can not talk about the running game without primarily focusing on Navy. The Midshipmen are once again one of the top rushing teams in the country, and while they still run an option-based offense it looks very different from what we have come to expect from them. They use more shotgun formations than in previous years, while quarterback Blake Horvath has proven to be a capable passer when needed and can hit some big plays down field. He has already thrown 10 touchdowns (to only one interception) and is averaging over 12 yards per attempt. Just for perspective, Navy only had 10 touchdown passes all of last season.” — Adam Gretz

Source: College football Week 9 odds, picks against the spread: LSU-Texas A&M, Notre Dame-Navy and more

Pro Football Focus

Dalton Wasserman: Fighting Irish 24, Midshipmen 20

“Notre Dame needs to establish its physical dominance early in the game. Navy has legitimate talent and will give the Fighting Irish a fight until the very end.” — Wasserman

Max Chadwick: Fighting Irish 31, Midshipmen 21

“Both teams could have issues stopping the run in this game, but Notre Dame’s defense will figure it out down the stretch to pull off the victory.” — Chadwick

Source: College Football Week 9 Preview: Storylines, matchups and predictions for the biggest games

Athlon Sports

  • Steven Lassan: Fighting Irish
  • Dan Lyons: Fighting Irish
  • Thomas Neumann: Fighting Irish

Source: College Football Picks: Expert Predictions for Every Game in Week 9

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