Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Miami Hurricanes Picks and Predictions (8/31): Back the Irish in Week 1

Notre Dame needs perfection from here on out - NC State Notre Dame Picks

Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are coming off a National Championship loss back in January. They’ve worked hard all offseason and begin their revenge campaign on the road against a very tough opponent. Two top 10 teams meet at Hard Rock Stadium as the Miami Hurricanes host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Riley Leonard is no longer with the team from South Bend, and Carson Beck looks to revamp the Hurricanes offense, but he has big shoes to fill. We’ve got our favorite picks in the matchup, so let’s get right into it!

Check out the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks. Plus, you’ve still got some time to add more futures to your portfolio so be sure to check out our Power Four Conference Previews below.

#6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. #10 Miami Hurricanes NCAA Football Insights

Carson Beck returns to college football to lead the Miami Hurricanes in the 2025-26 season - Notre Dame Miami Picks

Carson Beck returns to college football to lead the Miami Hurricanes in the 2025-26 season

Notre Dame was so close to lifting the College Football Playoff Trophy last year, but came up short, losing to the Ohio State Buckeyes. But Marcus Freeman is the kind of head coach to move on quickly, and get ready to reload for next season. And boy did he.

Sure, they have a very tough test to get things started in Week 1, but CJ Carr won the starting job and is ready to fill in for Riley Leonard. As for the Hurricanes, Carson Beck comes over from Georgia.

He had plenty of off the field troubles prior to practice even starting as his car got stolen and he was dumped by his influencer girlfriend. Nevertheless, Beck looks to fill those big shoes left by the No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick, Cam Ward.

He doesn’t have any of the weapons Ward had either, so its a completely new look for Mario Cristobal’s squad in the Sunshine State. Can they make a name for themselves this season? And will we see any sort of championship game hangover from the Irish?

Matchup Information – Notre Dame vs. Miami – August 31

  • Venue & Location: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, FL)
  • Date: Sunday, August 31, 2025
  • Kick Off: 7:30 p.m. Eastern
  • Broadcast: ABC

Notre Dame vs. Miami Betting Odds

Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of August 27, 2025 at 3:01 p.m. eastern. Sign up today with Promo Code FREE250 for a 50% deposit bonus up to $250 as well as 100 Free Spins at the online casino.

Spread

  • Notre Dame -2.5 (-110)
  • Miami +2.5 (-110)

Moneyline

  • Notre Dame -130
  • Miami +110

Total

  • Over 49 (-115)
  • Under 49 (-105)

Look, it’s a brand new team in Miami. There’s no Cam Ward, no Damien Martinez, no Xavier Restrepo. However, Cristobal brought in CJ Daniels from Liberty (and LSU) and Tony Johnson from Florida Atlantic to catch some passes. But do we still believe in Carson Beck?

I certainly don’t.

This is not the 2023 Carson Beck that almost led Georgia to the National Championship. Last season we saw his completion percentage drop by 8%, he had significantly less yards per completion and less passing yards overall, and he doubled his interceptions, throwing 12 in 13 games compared to just six his junior year.

I am not a Carson Beck believer, and it won’t start now.

#6 Notre Dame vs. #10 Miami NCAA Football Picks and Predictions

Jeremiyah Love leads a loaded Irish backfield this season - Notre Dame Miami Picks

Jeremiyah Love leads a loaded Irish backfield this season

Notre Dame vs. Miami Prediction: Notre Dame Wins & Covers, Under 49

Best Bet: Notre Dame ML (-130) BetOnline

Let’s check out the Fighting Irish roster, shall we?

Sure, there’s no Riley Leonard, but CJ Carr won the job, and he’s got an incredible supporting staff. Notre Dame still has senior TE Eli Raridon, junior wide receivers Jaden Greathouse and Jordan Faison, along with the entire offensive line and RB Jeremiyah Love, who is a sneaky Heisman pick in my eyes. They return 9/11 offensive starters, Carr knows the offense, and the only replacement is senior WR Malachi Fields who had 55+ catches for 800 yards and 5 touchdowns in each of his last two seasons at Virginia.

Defensively, they are the exact same team as well. They return 10/11 defensive starters from last season, and this unit is ready to help out their new quarterback.

This team went to the National Championship last season, and return 19/22 starters on either side of the ball. I expect the Irish to pound the rock, stringing together long drives to keep Carson Beck and the Hurricanes’ offense off the field. This also makes it easy on your young quarterback, and sets him up for success in play action sets and in the short passing game.

Ultimately, a buck 30 is way too good of a price to pass up in my eyes, as I think the Irish ML should be priced closer to -160 or -170. I may add more to my wager before Sunday Night’s kickoff, so stay tuned for a Notre Dame beat down.

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