#7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at #20 Texas A&M Aggies Week 1 Preview: Best Bet, Odds & Prediction
Top 25 Clash in College Station: Betting Insights, Matchup Analysis, and Predictions as Notre Dame Faces Texas A&M in a Pivotal Week 1 Showdown
Dan Karpuc - Aug 28, 2024, 4:13pm EDT
Week 1 Matchup Preview: #7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at #20 Texas A&M Aggies
Date:Â Saturday August 31, 2024, 7:30 PM ET
Location:Â Kyle Field (College Station, TX)
BetMGM Odds:Â Texas A&M -150, Texas A&M -3, O/U 46.5
The 2024 college football season kicks off with a thrilling matchup between the #7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the #20 Texas A&M Aggies. On Saturday, August 31, at 7:30 PM ET, Kyle Field in College Station, TX will host this highly anticipated game. With Texas A&M slightly favored, the Aggies will aim to defend their home turf against a formidable Notre Dame squad. This preview will delve into key matchups, betting insights, and expert predictions, setting the stage for what promises to be a pivotal Week 1 showdown.
My Best Bet: Texas A&M -150 ML
In the upcoming matchup between Texas A&M and Notre Dame, our model at BetQL gives Texas A&M a solid 68.0% chance of coming out victorious, -212 implied odds, after 10,000 simulations of this contest. The Aggies are the clear favorites in this game, with their strong defense and efficient offense playing a key role in their projected success. Texas A&M running back Amari Daniels is expected to have a standout performance, projected for an impressive 103.0 rushing yards. While he may not have a rushing touchdown predicted in this game, his ground game presence will be crucial for Texas A&M's offensive strategy in front of a rowdy Kyle Field crowd. Even after going 7-6 (4-4 SEC) last year, there’s a lot to like about Mike Elko’s program and I’m high on QB Conner Weigman.
On the Notre Dame side, Duke transfer quarterback Riley Leonard will be a key player to watch. The Fighting Irish are coming off a 10-3 campaign. In the simulations where Notre Dame pulls off the upset victory, Leonard averages 1.5 touchdown passes while limiting interceptions to 0.4. However, in their projected losses, his touchdown to interception ratio drops significantly to 0.75 TDs to 0.58 interceptions. If Notre Dame manages to secure the win, Leonard's dual-threat abilities will come into play as he is projected for 73.0 rushing yards and nearly a rushing touchdown per game in those scenarios.
With a current point spread of Texas A&M -3.0 and an over/under line set at 46.5, this game is shaping up to be a close battle between two competitive teams. Texas A&M's defense will be looking to capitalize on turnovers and maintain control of the game, as they hold a 23.0% chance of forcing more turnovers than they commit. It's clear that turnovers will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of this matchup, with a positive turnover margin significantly boosting Texas A&M's chances of securing the win.
The favorite has won each of Texas A&M’s last 11 games and Notre Dame has lost its last three road games against AP-ranked teams. Give me the Aggies to win this Week 1 showdown.
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