Notre Dame football score predictions: Fighting Irish vs. Texas A&M national picks

Blue & Gold rounded up picks for this weekend’s game between No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 20 Texas A&M from 32 people across 10 different national outlets. Seventeen of those personalties are picking the Aggies, 2.5-point favorites in front of a crowd of 100,000-plus at Kyle Field in College Station.

We’ll start the rundown, though, with a well-known on-air talent who’s choosing the Fighting Irish in a landslide. Joel Klatt, take it away…

Joel Klatt (Fox Sports): Notre Dame 24, Texas A&M 9

Klatt: “First games of the year, they’re always sloppy offensively, and then you’re gonna throw onto that what will be an insane environment. It’s a great stadium. It’s a great fan base that’s gonna be on fire for the change and the feeling that they’ve got going on at Texas A&M. That’s why A&M is favored by 2.5. However, I think Notre Dame’s defense is going to be outstanding. Outstanding. I think that they are going to stop, largely, Texas A&M.

“I do not think Texas A&M scores over 10 points in this game. I’m going 24-9, Notre Dame. They win on the road and because they win and they win emphatically, I think we immediately start talking, man, is Notre Dame gonna go undefeated and are they a shoo-in for the fifth seed in the College Football Playoff? I think we could be talking about that come Monday.”

The Sporting News: Notre Dame 27, Texas A&M 19

Bill Bender: “The Irish are in a tough spot here against the Aggies. Third-year coach Marcus Freeman is 7-4 against ranked opponents with a 2-3 record on the road. Mike Elko is making his debut with Texas A&M, and the quarterback matchup between Conner Weigman and Riley Leonard should be fun. What will be the difference? Defense travels, and the Irish are stacked on that side of the ball. That should be enough to overcome what will be a tough game at hot Kyle Field, if the Irish do not turn the ball over.”

Bruce Feldman (The Athletic): Texas A&M 17, Notre Dame 10

Feldman: “Marcus Freeman will have one of the best defenses in the country, possibly the most athletic Notre Dame has had in the past 30 years, but it’s the offensive line — which will start three sophomores and two freshmen, including a true freshman left tackle in Anthonie Knapp — that gives me a lot of concern. Mike Elko’s defense will have a big, athletic front four. I also buy that Aggies quarterback Conner Weigman has the pocket presence to hold up well against the Notre Dame D.

Greg McElroy (ESPN): Notre Dame

McElroy: “If you look at A&M, if I felt better about Texas A&M’s receivers and if I felt better about Texas A&M’s offensive line, I think it would be a much more challenging choice. But I believe, with what they’re going to see against a mobile quarterback in Riley Leonard — I think Notre Dame wins the game in what should be a low-scoring brawl.”

Bleacher Report: Notre Dame 24, Texas A&M 20

David Kenyon: “Beyond the obvious as a Top 25 matchup, this is a massive game. Notre Dame is aiming to back up its College Football Playoff upside after a quiet 2023, while Texas A&M is working to shake the Jimbo Fisher era and start Mike Elko’s tenure with an emphatic upset. The hosts are favored, but ND’s veteran defense can be the difference in a dramatic game.”

USA TODAY

Scooby Axson: Fighting Irish
Jordan Mendoza: Fighting Irish
Paul Myerberg: Fighting Irish
Erick Smith: Texas A&M
Eddie Thomas: Texas A&M
Dan Wolken: Texas A&M

CBS Sports

Dennis Dodd: Texas A&M
Tom Fornelli: Texas A&M
Chip Patterson: Texas A&M
Shehan Jeyarajah: Texas A&M
David Cobb: Fighting Irish
Jerry Palm: Texas A&M
Brandon Marcello: Fighting Irish
Richard Johnson: Texas A&M

The Dallas Morning News

Lia Assimakopoulos (colleges insider): Texas A&M
Scott Bell (colleges editor): Fighting Irish
Corby Davidson (The Ticket): Fighting Irish
Jamie Hancock (assistant sport editor): Texas A&M
Selby Lopez (colleges editor): Texas A&M
Newy Scruggs (NBC5): Fighting Irish
Kevin Sherrington (columnist) Texas A&M
Brett Vito (DRC): Texas A&M

Athlon Sports

Steven Lassan: Texas A&M
Dan Lyons: Texas A&M
Thomas Neumann: Fighting Irish

Pro Football Focus

Max Chadwick: Notre Dame 24, Texas A&M 23
Dalton Wasserman: Notre Dame 23, Texas A&M 17