Notre Dame football score predictions: NC State vs. Fighting Irish national picks
USA TODAY: All six experts picked Notre Dame
Picking straight-up as opposed to against the spread, all six of USA TODAY’s college football experts — Dan Wolken, Eddie Timanus, Erick Smith, Jace Evans, Paul Myerberg and Scooby Axson — picked Notre Dame to beat NC State.
ESPN (Bill Connelly/SP+): Notre Dame -7.5
“NC State has the athleticism to push the Fighting Irish, but the Wolfpack’s complete lack of explosiveness against UConn last week, combined with the fact that Huskies backs gained 142 yards on 19 carries, feels foreboding. SP+ says Irish by two touchdowns, and since Notre Dame fans tell me SP+ always hates their team, I have to assume that’s a good sign.”
ESPN (Scott Van Pelt): NC State +7.5
“Notre Dame has looked great out of the gate — laying more than a TD on the road in a pseudo-conference game feels a touch steep. Wolfpack plus the points.”
The Athletic: Notre Dame 31, NC State 20
“Dave Doeren and NC State are plenty familiar with [the Fighting Irish’s] new quarterback, but Sam Hartman is playing in a much different offense. Hartman will get the headlines, but don’t be surprised if Notre Dame leans heavily on its running game against the Wolfpack. And it will be interesting to see how effective QB Brennan Armstrong is against the Irish.”
Yahoo Sports: NC State +7.5
“Notre Dame has put up big numbers on offense through two games but has done so against inferior competition. Things ramp up significantly with a trip to NC State on Saturday, and I think the Irish are in for a close game.
“Some of the questions I had about Notre Dame in the preseason have not been answered. I still am skeptical about the skill-position talent (particularly receiver) and the ability to get after the quarterback on defense. NC State is strong in the front seven, has really good cornerbacks and gave Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman fits when he played for Wake Forest. In his three games vs. Tony Gibson’s defense, Hartman has thrown for 923 yards, but he has completed only 54.9% of his passes, with six touchdowns and six interceptions.
“On the other side, I like the ability for QB Brennan Armstrong to make some plays. Robert Anae, NC State’s OC, has a knack for scheming things open, and Armstrong is a veteran player who can beat you with his arm and legs. NC State is 7-3 ATS in its past 10 as a home underdog, and I think the Wolfpack can keep this within a TD at home.”
Bleacher Report: Notre Dame 34, NC State 20
“Between a pair of strong performances from Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman and NC State’s unremarkable win at UConn, a lopsided margin feels possible. DraftKings only lists ND as a 7.5-point favorite, though. Keep an eye on this contest in a thin noon window.”
