Oklahoma State vs. Notre Dame Prediction, Pick Against the Spread, and Latest Odds

Oklahoma State vs. Notre Dame Prediction, Pick Against the Spread, and Latest Odds

Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Fiesta Bowl

Spread: Notre Dame -2

Total: 45.5

Date: Saturday, January 1, 2021

Game Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

Where To Watch: ESPN

Oklahoma State vs. Notre Dame Odds

Oklahoma State vs. Notre Dame Prediction

It’s been an interesting last month for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Notre Dame finished the season 11-1 on the year with their lone loss being against Cincinnati. However, Notre Dame watched former head coach Brian Kelly dip for LSU. After that, Notre Dame missed the College Football Playoff with one loss and also hired defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman to be the head coach of the football team.

Now they’ll look to prove all the doubters wrong on Saturday, 1 pm ET against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Fiesta Bowl.

Oklahoma State went 11-2 on the season but lost to Baylor in the Big 12 Championship game to conclude Big 12 play. As a consolation, the Fiesta Bowl wouldn’t be so bad.

Here are our picks and predictions for the Fiesta Bowl between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Oklahoma State vs. Notre Dame INJURY REPORT

Oklahoma State 

No Injuries Reported

Notre Dame

Out: RB Kyren Williams (NFL Draft Prep), S Kyle Hamilton (Knee)

Oklahoma State vs Notre Dame Prediction

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish made a splash hiring with Marcus Freeman as head coach. Everything you hear about Freeman from reporters to people in the know all have great things to say.

People say he’s genuine and that he doesn’t lie to recruits. He’s got great traits and is young enough to really connect with the players. Notre Dame really has a great one.

But the Fiesta Bowl will be Freeman’s first time in action as head coach. There’s a lot of pressure here. He might be the best hire, but there’s also a potential for him to struggle in his first opportunity as a coach.

However, one thing is for sure. The guys will play their tails off for him. 

The Fighting Irish will be without two very key players in Kyren Williams and Kyle Hamilton. Those are two extremely key players as Williams ran for over 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns and Hamilton is expected to be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft.

Throughout the season, Notre Dame could do no wrong. The Fighting Irish gained over 415 yards per game and held opponents to under 340 yards per game.

However, Oklahoma State was slightly better overall, allowing just 273.6 yards per game this season while also averaging over 400 yards on offense. However, if Oklahoma State is going to want to win this game, they’ll need better play out of leader and quarterback Spencer Sanders. He’s thrown for 12 interceptions on the season and really played poorly in the Big 12 Championship game.

Oklahoma State has struggled to make tackles but has ultimately been in every game this season and could’ve ended up going undefeated if a couple of plays went their way as both losses were by one possession.

As the season went on, Notre Dame played much better, but now with some new direction without Brian Kelly, I’m expecting a little bit of regression.

Oklahoma State Cowboys vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish Pick

• PICK: Oklahoma State +2.5 (-110)