Notre Dame football score predictions: Irish vs. Arkansas national picks

Notre Dame has a slight edge in the national picks, but plenty believe Arkansas (+4.5 on BetMGM) can pull off the upset.

Here’s what the national experts believe will happen when the Irish take on the Razorbacks at noon ET on Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark.

On3 (Andy Staples): Notre Dame -5.5

This prediction was made earlier in the week, before the line dropped to 4.5.

“I think Notre Dame is going to run up a lot of points in this game. I think they’re gonna give up some, but I am curious about the Notre Dame defense. Are we going to come out of this game saying, ‘Notre Dame will have to outscore every good team that they play in a shootout,’ or will the defense be able to keep this score to something manageable and then Notre Dame just rolls offensively? I don’t know if it’s necessarily the second thing, but I don’t think it’s the first thing either. I think it’s something in between, where Arkansas puts up a respectable number of points but Notre Dame ends up pulling away at the end.” — Staples

Source: PICKING Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Arkansas Razorbacks | Marcus Freeman vs Sam Pittman

On3 (Ari Wasserman): Arkansas +5.5

This prediction was made earlier in the week, before the line dropped to 4.5.

“If you do trust anybody to get them out of the hole, it’s Marcus Freeman, because they literally just did it last year. But I think that this idea that they’re just gonna run through the rest of their schedule and never have to sweat now is completely not true.

“I think that part of the reason they gave up 41 points [to Texas A&M] is because A&M’s gonna score more than 30 on just about everybody they play this year. But I do think that there is an opening there for Arkansas and Taylen Green, who has been very good offensively this year, to score some points. And I think this might be a very close, exciting, high-scoring football game where the final score is 5.5 or less, so I’m gonna take the points.”

Source: PICKING Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Arkansas Razorbacks | Marcus Freeman vs Sam Pittman

On3 (J.D. PicKell): Notre Dame 33, Arkansas 30

“Here’s how I feel about this game. I think Taylen Green could be the one who takes it over. I don’t think that’s unreasonable by any stretch of the imagination. I think Arkansas is going to be scrappy in this spot after the loss to Memphis. I think there’s some pride. I think there’s some bounce-back feel to it.

“Here’s the thing, though: I think Notre Dame’s also got some desperation to them. I think playoff mode Marcus Freeman is a real thing. I think Notre Dame wins this game, but I think that Arkansas actually keeps it relatively close.” — PicKell

Source: Notre Dame vs Arkansas PREDICTION

Bleacher Report: Arkansas 34, Notre Dame 30

“Since defense hasn’t been a strength for either program, this is a giant toss-up. Notre Dame is more talented overall, but Arkansas has a dynamic QB, Taylen Green, who should frustrate a defense that hasn’t generated much pressure. A bad start to the season for the Irish gets worse.” — David Kenyon

Source: 2025 Week 5 College Football Predictions for Every Game

USA TODAY Sports: Nearly unanimous for the Irish

Matt Hayes: Fighting Irish
Jordan Mendoza: Fighting Irish
Paul Meyerberg: Fighting Irish
Erick Smith: Fighting Irish
Eddie Timanus: Razorbacks
Blake Toppmeyer: Fighting Irish

Source: College football Week 5 picks, predictions include Alabama-Georgia, Oregon-Penn State

ESPN analytics: Razorbacks by 2.2 (SP+), Fighting Irish by 1.4 (FPI)

“Notre Dame and Arkansas have won three games by a combined 113 points and lost four by a combined 11. That’s pretty tough to do, and one of them will head into October with a losing record despite obvious upside. I’ll be really disappointed if we don’t get a track meet here, considering their seven games have averaged 69.7 total points thus far.” — Bill Connelly

Source: College football Week 5: Alabama-Georgia, Oregon-Penn State, more

Athlon Sports: All three analysts pick the Irish

Steven Lassan: Fighting Irish
Thomas Neumann: Fighting Irish
Kyle Wood: Fighting Irish

Source: College Football Picks: Expert Predictions for Every Game in Week 5

Josh Pate: Notre Dame -4.5

“I am going to bank on the fact that Notre Dame’s defense can’t possibly be this horrific all year. There’s nowhere to go but up. Really, there’s nowhere to go but up, unless they break out the shovel. And if they break out the shovel around Chris Ash, it will not be to just dig further down. It will be to turn that thing into a weapon. So, I’m gonna take Notre Dame to win and cover. That was a gut punch last week, the way Arkansas gave that game away/Memphis took the game from Arkansas. Notre Dame can’t be out of the playoffs already. They just can’t be.” — Pate

Source: Notre Dame vs Arkansas…Preview & Prediction – Josh Pate’s College Football Show