Newsstand: What is the spread for the No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 6 Miami game?

Notre Dame football game week is finally here, and oddsmakers have revealed their thoughts in projecting the outcome of the Fighting Irish’s opener. 

BetMGM lists Notre Dame as a 2.5-point favorite against Miami. The No. 6 Irish and No. 10 Hurricanes have college football’s standalone game Sunday night. It is one of three top 10 matchups in Week 1. 

The Irish should feel pretty good about their chances to meet BetMGM’s expectations to kick off the 2025 season. 

In the Marcus Freeman era, Notre Dame has been one of the nation’s top teams against the spread (ATS). Last season marked Freeman’s best performance to date. The Irish finished 12-3-1 ATS, ranking fourth in college football behind Arizona State, Marshall and Minnesota.

Although the Irish didn’t face Miami last season, they covered the spread on the Hurricanes’ home turf by defeating Penn State 27-24 in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Penn State entered as a 1-point favorite in that game.

Before the 2024 campaign, Notre Dame had already built a strong ATS record. The Irish posted a 9-3-1 mark in 2023, ranking fourth behind Arizona, Miami (Ohio) and Oregon. In Freeman’s first full season in 2022, Notre Dame finished 7-6 ATS. However, it failed to cover the spread in Freeman’s coaching debut — a 2021 Fiesta Bowl loss to Oklahoma State.

Freeman’s overall ATS record stands at an impressive 28-13-2. Sports bettors who have backed Notre Dame since 2022 have seen significant returns, making the Irish one of college football’s most reliable teams to bet on. 

Notre Dame Posts of the Weekend

Former Irish quarterback Riley Leonard threw his first NFL preseason touchdown pass on his father’s birthday.

The construction of Notre Dame football’s new team facility, Jack and Kathy Shields Family Hall, has shown major progress. 

The ESPN crew of Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy and Molly McGrath will be on the call for Notre Dame vs. Miami. 

Notre Dame Quote of the Weekend

“(It will be) the luck of the Irish, as Notre Dame beats Miami. Guaranteed, right here.”

— ESPN radio host Paul Finebaum on the outcome of this week’s game. 

Notre Dame Headlines of the Weekend

• 7 days until ND football: Opportunities for ranked wins in 2025
• Seven Sunday statements seven days before ND football starts at Miami
• What I learned from ND QB commit Noah Grubbs in comeback win
• Remembering the ultimate ‘Next Man In’ at ND: Coley O’Brien
• What ND freshmen are up in 2025?
• ND five-star RB target Kemon Spell dazzles with jaw-dropping junior season debut
• ND QB commit Noah Grubbs leads epic comeback with four TD night
• 8 days until ND football: Four strengths, four questions for ND in 2025
• From bloody gash to big hits: ND commit Joey O’Brien powers La Salle past Central Catholic
• Eight ND football players whose stock rose in fall camp