Notre Dame football score predictions: Fighting Irish vs. NIU national picks
Coming off an emotional, hard-fought road win over Texas A&M, Notre Dame is riding high entering its Week 2 home opener against Northern Illinois.
Unsurprisingly, most national experts believe the Irish will win comfortably over the Huskies. Whether they cover the 28.5-point spread, however, is up for debate.
Here’s how the national experts believe the Irish will do in Week 2 against NIU.
The Sporting News: Notre Dame 42, NIU 10
Bill Bender: “It’s a large number in a potential emotional letdown game for the Irish, but Notre Dame’s pass defense should slow down Ethan Hampton, who threw five TDs for the Huskies against Western Illinois last week. Look for Notre Dame to rely on the running game early to get Riley Leonard and the passing game on track. The Irish cruise in the home opener and pick up a late cover along the way.”
Source: College football picks, predictions against the spread for Week 2
Bleacher Report: Notre Dame 38, NIU 14
David Kenyon: “Massive road win? Check. Return home to face a non-power opponent? Check. This is the prototypical context of a letdown game, so perhaps Notre Dame trudges out to a slow start. Northern Illinois has a sturdy defense, too. Eventually, though, the Irish will pull away.”
Source: College Football 2024: Week 2 Predictions for Every Game
Athlon Sports
Steven Lassan: Fighting Irish
Dan Lyons: Fighting Irish
Thomas Neumann: Fighting Irish
Source: College Football Picks: Expert Predictions for Every Game in Week 2
ESPN FPI: Fighting Irish by 29.8 points
ESPN’s analytics like Notre Dame to blow out NIU, giving the home team a 96 percent win probability against its Mid-American Conference opponent.
Source: 2024 college football Week 2: Betting odds and lines
ESPN SP+: Notre Dame 39, NIU 9
Similar story here: SP+ gives Notre Dame a 97 percent win probability, projecting the Irish to cover the 28.5-point spread. It also predicts the over to hit, with the point total set at 45.5.
Source: Bill Connelly (@ESPN_BillC) on the social media website formerly known as Twitter
Action Network: Northern Illinois +28.5
Stuckey: “NIU features an extremely run-heavy, slower offense, which should limit the number of possessions, making the task of covering four touchdowns a bit more arduous for the Fighting Irish. … Meanwhile, the defense should be one of the better units in the MAC with an abundance of experience and returning production. They can at least provide some resistance when Notre Dame has the ball.
“I hoped this line would hit 31, but it just never got there before coming back down. I’m still OK with anything over four touchdowns in a good situational spot with a fairly low total (45.5) against a Notre Dame squad I just don’t have many qualms fading as a large favorite following a physical brawl in College Station.”
