Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M Prediction, Pick, Odds: Can Conner Weigman, Aggies Edge Fighting Irish in Week 1?
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will visit the Texas A&M Aggies for a highly-anticipated clash on Saturday night at Kyle Field. Can Conner Weigman and the Aggies pick up a top-10 victory to start off the Mike Eklo era in College Station? NCAAF handicapper Peter Alexis is here to give his prediction and pick for this Week 1 ranked battle of Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M.
Peter Alexis - August 26, 2024, 8:00 PM EDT
7 minNotre Dame vs. Texas A&M Prediction, Pick, Odds: Can Conner Weigman, Aggies Edge Fighting Irish in Week 1?
The 20th ranked Texas A&M Aggies will battle No. 7 Notre Dame on Saturday night in College Station. They will need the full power of the 12th man behind them to take down the Fighting Irish in this Week 1 showdown.
This will be the first meeting between the two teams since 2001, when Texas A&M throttled the Irish at Kyle Field. But the year before, Notre Dame took the previous matchup in South Bend. You might think that these teams don't know a lot about each other outside of these matchups from decades ago, but you would be missing one important detail.
There is always a game within the game, and this time one is brought to you by way of the transfer portal. Former Duke head coach Mike Elko arrived to Texas A&M this offseason to take over for Jimbo Fisher. His former starting quarterback with the Blue Devils also made a move in the offseason, as Riley Leonard transferred to Notre Dame and took over the starting job. The two will engage in a personal chess battle to try and get the better of the other in front of a packed house.
Texas A&M opened as a 1.5-point favorite earlier in the summer, before steadily gaining ground to the -3 available now. The moneyline odds have the Aggies up to -145, making the top-10 Fighting Irish available as a plus-money road underdog in Week 1. Additionally, the total has plummeted down from 50.5 to 46.5 as sharps are expecting some rust from the new quarterbacks and a strong defensive performance.
NCAAF handicapper Peter Alexis is here to provide his prediction and pick for this opening weekend matchup of Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M in College Station.
Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M Start Time, Where To Watch, Odds
- Date: Saturday, August 31, 2024
- Game Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: ABC
Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M Odds
- Spread: Notre Dame +2.5 (-105), Texas A&M -2.5 (-115)
- Total Odds: O 46.5 (-110), U 46.5 (-110)
- Moneyline Odds: Notre Dame (+125), Texas A&M (-145)
Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M Injury Report
Notre Dame
Questionable: N/A
Out: N/A
Texas A&M
Questionable: N/A
Out: N/A
Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M Prediction
Texas A&M will return Connor Wiegman at quarterback, who is starting over in a sense after his season was cut short in week four last year. He had been tearing it up for the Aggies with nearly 1000 yards passing and 10 total touchdowns in just the first three games, but broke a bone in his foot early against Auburn, and the show was over for him. He is eager to get back under center after rehabbing the injury, and will try to pick up where he left off in the biggest game of his career.
This line began with Texas A&M as a slight favorite at -1.5, and has climbed towards a full field goal ahead of the game. It the classic home team sitting as the favorite against a higher ranked road team spot, thanks to the typical 2.5-point built-in home field advantage. If this game was at Notre Dame, they would probably swing to a -3.5-point favorite or more.
The line move has been aided by some heavy money backing A&M at home. While receiving the majority 60% of the bets, the Aggies are getting a massive 88% of the handle, with many big bets coming in on Mike Elko's squad. It has helped boost the line by over a point, and may continue to move as kickoff approaches.
Texas A&M has their work cut out for them in the SEC, featuring one of the tougher schedules in the country. Their win total is set at 8.5, while Notre Dame has a more favorable track and boasts a 10.5 win total. The Fighting Irish only have three ranked teams on their schedule, and all have new starting quarterbacks, so it remains to be seen how tough those opponents will be. ND also has the fifth-best odds to make the College Football Playoff, thanks in part to this easier schedule. They sit at -170, and it appears likely that they will contend for a spot in the 12-team field unless there is a major offensive meltdown. A&M has a shot as well, but are back at +240 odds and will need to squeak out wins in several showdowns to find their way into the mix in December.
The battle testing for the Aggies begins now, and there's no better place to do it than in front of over 100,000 screaming fans at Kyle Field. Riley Leonard will be feeling the pressure in an SEC stadium to begin his Notre Dame tenure, and there's a strong chance that the transfer QB arrives with a lot of nerves. Mike Elko will know how to take advantage of his former player on the road, and can help the Aggies pack a punch early and build a lead. Let's tail this line movement and heavy money on the home team as the Irish take some time to build chemistry with their new additions.
Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M Pick
Pick: Texas A&M -2.5 (-115) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
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