Notre Dame-North Carolina Betting Preview

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have made quite an impression on the ACC since joining the league for this season. All Brian Kelly's team has done is go a perfect 7-0 in league play and 8-0 overall, including a 47-40 win over Clemson in OT that snapped the Tigers' 28-game winning streak. The victory put Notre Dame in the driver's seat for reaching the ACC Championship and remaining in contention for the naltional playoffs. But the Irish can ill-afford to look past today's opponent, North Carolina, as they head to Chapel Hill to take on the Tar Heels. Kick off is 3:30 p.m. ET at Kenan Stadium.

Mack Brown's Tar Heel offense has had little trouble putting up points behind QB San Howell. UNC has topped the 50-point mark three times already, including 56 against Duke and 59 against Wake Forest in tthe last two games. But the defense has struggled to stop opponents, allowing over 413 yards and 30 points per game with Virginia (44), Virginia Tech (45) and Wake Forest (53) all going over the 40-point mark. 

Those numbers should look pretty tasty to the Notre Dame offense led by QB Ian Book (11 TDs, 1 INT) and RB Kyren Willams (97.1 rushing yards per game). The Irish have topped the 40-point mark in three of their last four games and are coming off a 45-point effort in their last game against Boston College. In addition, ND's defense, which ranks in the top 15 in points (16.6 ppg), rushing yards (85.1) and total yards (304.1) looks to have enough firepower to give UNC's vaunted offense some problems. Going on the road shouldn't impact the Irish either as they come in with a 5-1 ATS record in their last 6 games away from South Bend.

Dunkel's Pick:

Vegas opened with Notre Dame favored by 4.5 and Dunkel is picking the Fighting Irish to cover with ND calculated at 8 points stronger. Dunkel also has the final score going over the Vegas line of 64 with a calculated point total of 76. 

Dunkel's Pick: Notre Dame (-4.5); Over

To get all of this week's NCAA Football picks, click on the Football heading above.