What Though the Odds: Notre Dame Football Betting Info for the BYU Game

The #2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish will be featured on ABC when they face the #8 BYU Cougars at Levell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM ET.

About Last Week

The Irish entered last weekend’s game versus Stanford as seven-touchdown favorites. The question wasn’t so much would Notre Dame win the game as it was whether they would remain focused, knowing #8 BYU was lurking around the corner. The answer came on the first play of the game, as Notre Dame defensive end Boubacar Traore sacked Stanford’s quarterback for a two-yard loss. His hit on the Cardinal quarterback caused a fumble that was recovered by Irish linebacker Jaiden Ausberry on Stanford’s 18-yard line. Four plays later, Notre Dame running back Nolan James scored one of his two touchdowns.

James wasn’t the only Irish rusher to find success, as the team racked up 361 total rushing yards. Freshman running back Jonaz Walton carried the ball 13 times for 181 yards, which was the most rushing yards a Notre Dame freshman has ever recorded in a single game. Not to be outdone, Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr made his presence known, completing 14 of 20 passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns. Carr also carried the ball five times for 41 yards.

The Irish defense also did its part, limiting Stanford to 202 yards of total offense. The Cardinal managed just 58 rushing yards on 21 carries for less than three yards per carry. Notre Dame’s defense also created three turnovers, including one fumble and two interceptions. That type of complementary football will be needed again this weekend in Provo, Utah, if the Irish hope to remain undefeated. Next up: BYU

Key Injuries

Notre Dame
WR Quincy Porter (knee), OL Charles Jagusah (arm), Chris Terek (knee), DL Christopher Burgess Jr. (tibia), DL Tiki Hola (knee), LB Ko’o Kia (shoulder), DB Chaz Smith (wrist), and S Brauntae Johnson (foot) are out. DL Jason Onye (ankle) and DB Leonard Moore (concussion) are questionable.

BYU
RB Jovesa Damuni (knee) and RB LJ Martin (leg) are out. LB Isaiah Glasker (leg) is questionable. RB Sione Moa (knee) is probable.

Betting Trends

• Notre Dame is 7-2 all-time against BYU.
• Notre Dame defeated BYU 28-20 in 2022 in Las Vegas.
• Notre Dame is 2-1 ATS in its last three games versus BYU.
• Notre Dame is 4-2 ATS in 2026.
• Notre Dame has won 16 straight games by double digits.

Why the Matchup Favors Notre Dame

Line (Point Spread) and Total (Over/Under)
#2 Notre Dame (6-0) (4-2 ATS) at #8 BYU (5-0) (5-0 ATS)

At the end of the 2025 college football regular season, the weekly College Football Playoff ranking had Notre Dame listed among the top 10 teams with only conference championship games remaining to be played, which all but guaranteed the Irish a spot in the playoffs — or so they thought. Somehow Miami traded places with Notre Dame without either team having played a game since the end of the regular season, which granted the Hurricanes a place in the playoffs while putting Notre Dame on the outside looking in.

ESPN, the same network running the college football playoffs, had the unmitigated gall to subsequently ask Notre Dame if they’d like to face BYU in the Pop Tarts Bowl, which would be aired on ABC. Coach Freeman met with the leaders of his team, and collectively they said, ‘thanks but no thanks’ to the offer. BYU faced Georgia Tech instead and defeated the Yellow Jackets, 25-21.

Message boards and pundits poked fun at Notre Dame’s refusal to play in the Pop Tarts Bowl, suggesting that the Irish were afraid of the Cougars. During this week’s press conference, BYU Head Coach Kalani Sitake met with the media and confessed exactly how this year’s matchup came about, which dispelled all the previous rumors.

“They’re the ones that reached out and wanted this game,” coach Sitake admitted. “And so, it’d be crazy for us to turn it down. So when they reached out and wanted this series and wanted this game, I thought that was a huge opportunity for us to play them.”

Like the saying goes, be careful what you wish for, as BYU will have its hands full on Saturday night when it faces a Notre Dame team that’s solid in all facets of the game.

For starters, the Cougars will be without their bread-and-butter running back, LJ Martin. The 2025 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year injured his leg against TCU and will likely be out for six weeks. BYU’s first game without him came last Friday night against Iowa State, and there was a noticeable dropoff. Reserve BYU running back Preston Rex led the Cougars’ running back committee with 21 yards on six carries.

However, Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier led the team with 109 rushing yards on nine carries. Bachmeier also passed for 329 yards and two touchdowns. Iowa State’s defense and Notre Dame’s defense are different animals, though.

This week, BYU’s rushing attack will be forced to face the nation’s third-ranked rush defense, which allows just 58.3 yards per game. Opposing running backs are gaining 2.10 yards per carry. Passing the ball will not be much easier, as the Irish are ranked 12th in passing defense, surrendering 155.8 yards per game.

BYU’s best chance at an upset will likely depend on its defense that’s ranked seventh in the nation. However, looking beneath the surface, there’s a glaring flaw. It’s a flaw that will likely be exposed on Saturday night.

The Cougars find themselves near the middle of the pack in the sacks category, with 11 sacks through five games, which is good for 57th in the country, averaging 2.2 per contest.

Getting to Carr on Saturday night will be no easy task, as Notre Dame’s offense is ranked third in sacks allowed, giving up less than half a sack per game. They’ve allowed just two sacks on the season. Furthermore, BYU is 91st in pressure rate, 66th in sack rate, and a putrid 136th in pressure-to-blitz ratio. To add insult to injury, they must face CJ Carr, who is currently sixth in passing efficiency at 186.49. Carr has completed 102 of 144 passes for 1,378 yards, including 16 touchdowns and one interception.

The Pick

Since being named head coach at Notre Dame, Marcus Freeman has instilled many mantras for his team. “Keep the pain” and “Leave no doubt” are two that will likely be set on repeat until the game ends on Saturday night. At this week’s press conference, Freeman shared a mantra that Notre Dame has instilled in him.

“This is what we do,” coach Freeman stated. “I’m serious. This is what Notre Dame football does. We go into different places. It’s a big game. That’s why we’re here. That’s why we choose to come to Notre Dame. We love it. They love it. I love it.”

Under Freeman’s tutelage, the Irish will not be intimidated by the confinement of Levell Edwards Stadium, the altitude, the rabid Mormon fans, or the #8 ranking placed in front of BYU in the AP poll. Vegas bookmakers agree, as they have Notre Dame -10.5 with a total of 46.5. Pick: Notre Dame -10.5

Behind Enemy Lines Week 7

Wisconsin (4-1) (3-2 ATS) at UCLA (5-0) (5-0 ATS)
The Badgers handled Michigan State easily, disarming the Spartans, 31-3. UCLA remained undefeated, defeating then-No. 13 Oregon, 17-15. Seven of Wisconsin’s last 10 games have gone under the total. UCLA is 6-4 ATS in its last 10. UCLA is -2.5 with a total of 44. Pick: Wisconsin +2.5

Tulsa (3-3) (3-3 ATS) at Rice (1-5) (3-3 ATS)
Navy outgained Tulsa 20-6 in the second half to defeat the Golden Hurricane, 34-26. Rice struggled to score in its 28-12 loss at East Carolina. Something has to give here, as Tulsa has lost three straight games and Rice has lost five straight of its own. Tulsa is at -3.5 and trending upward. The total is 46.5. Pick: Under 46.5

Northwestern (4-1) (4-1 ATS) at Michigan State (2-4) (4-2 ATS)
The Northwestern Wildcats chewed up the Ball State Cardinals, 45-14. Michigan State lost a heartbreaker in overtime to Illinois, 38-37. Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald will be facing his former team, where he served as a player and head coach. Northwestern is ranked in the AP top 25 for the first time since 2020. Northwestern is -7.5 with a total of 49. Pick: Northwestern -7.5

Washington (3-3) (1-5 ATS) at Purdue (3-3) (3-3 ATS)
Washington was embarrassed at home by Iowa, 41-24. Purdue defeated Minnesota, 41-13. Washington has lost three straight games. If Purdue wins this week, it’ll be the Boilermakers’ first three-game conference winning streak since 2022. Purdue is -3 with a total of 52. Pick: Purdue -3

North Carolina (3-2) (3-2 ATS) at Duke (4-1) (4-1 ATS)
The Tar Heels defeated Pittsburgh, 21-17. Duke offered Georgia Tech its first ACC win of the season as the Blue Devils fell 28-25. North Carolina’s win over #25 Pittsburgh was the first victory over a ranked team in two seasons under head coach Bill Belichick. Duke has defeated North Carolina in their last two meetings. Duke is -3.5 with a total of 47. Pick: Over 47

Elon University (0-0) (0-0 ATS) at Stanford (2-4) (2-4 ATS)
Stanford was roughed up by Notre Dame, 58-7. The Cardinal offense gained only 202 yards of total offense while its defense allowed a whopping 598 total yards. Line – N/A Next game: NC State

Navy (2-3) (1-4 ATS) at UTSA (5-1) (3-2 ATS)
The Midshipmen earned their second win of the season, defeating Tulsa 34-26. UTSA outgained South Florida 21-7 during the second half of their last game en route to a 31-24 victory. The total has gone over in five of Navy’s last 10 games. UTSA is 6-3 in its last nine games. UTSA is -6.5 and trending upward. The total is 56.5. Pick: Over 56.5

Florida State (3-3) (2-4 ATS) at #4 Miami (5-0) (4-1 ATS)
Florida State lost its third game of the season at home to Louisville, 44-20. Miami will enter this rivalry game fresh from its bye week. Florida State has lost 11 straight road games dating back to 2023. The Hurricanes have won the last two matchups versus the Seminoles. Miami is -21.5 with a total of 56. Pick: Miami -21.5

Pittsburgh (5-1) (4-2 ATS) at Boston College (2-3) (3-2 ATS)
Pittsburgh fell at home to North Carolina, 21-17, causing them to drop from the rankings. Boston College will be returning from a bye week. The Eagles lost their last outing to SMU, 25-16. Pittsburgh has won five straight conference road games. Boston College is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games. Pittsburgh is -6 with a 42.5. Pick: Under 42.5

Virginia (4-2) (3-3 ATS) at #24 SMU (4-1) (2-3 ATS)
Virginia outscored Syracuse 21-8 in the second half to defeat the Orange, 28-25. SMU will be returning from a bye week. Prior to their bye, the Mustangs trotted by Boston College, 25-16. The total has gone under in seven of Virginia’s last 10 games. SMU is -9 with a 52. Pick: SMU -9

Louisville (3-3) (4-2 ATS) at Syracuse (2-3) (2-3 ATS)
Louisville overcame a 14-point deficit to crush Florida State, 44-20. Syracuse could only manage eight second-half points as it fell at Virginia, 28-25. All four of Syracuse’s quarterbacks are dealing with injuries this week. The healthiest of the four will start. Louisville is -14.5 with a total of 55.5. Pick: Louisville -14.5

*Notre Dame 2026 opponents are listed in bold