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Miami vs Notre Dame Picks and Predictions — August 31, 2025
A top-10 clash headlines Sunday night as the Miami Hurricanes host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Hard Rock Stadium. Miami enters ranked No. 10 with Carson Beck stepping in at quarterback, while No. 6 Notre Dame turns to redshirt freshman CJ Carr after last season’s run to the national championship game.
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Oddsmakers opened Notre Dame as a slight -2.5 favorite with the total at 55. With playoff stakes already baked in, this game could shape the early CFP picture.
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Notre Dame Can Win If…
CJ Carr avoids critical mistakes and leans on his supporting cast. The freshman inherits a balanced attack highlighted by RB Jeremiyah Love, who ran for 1,125 yards and 17 TDs in 2024. With Notre Dame’s elite defense (fourth in scoring, first in takeaways last season), the Irish don’t need Carr to be perfect — just poised.
“We’re going to need both of them this year,” Irish coach Marcus Freeman said of Carr and backup Kenny Minchey. “No matter if you’re named starting quarterback or you’re the backup, you have to continue to work.”
If Love carries the offense early and the defense limits Miami’s explosive plays, Notre Dame has the upper hand.
Miami Can Win If…
Carson Beck delivers like he did at Georgia. Over the past two seasons, Beck tallied 7,426 yards and 52 TDs, and now he steps in for No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. Miami also needs its defense to rebound after giving up 42 points in each of its final two games last season.
“It’s a game. I’ve played quarterback since I was 7 years old … I don’t feel any pressure,” Beck said.
If Beck connects with his playmakers and the Hurricanes generate pressure up front, they can flip history against a Notre Dame program that leads the all-time series 18–8–1.
Key NCAAF Betting Trends
| Category | Notre Dame | Miami |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Record | 14–2 | 10–3 |
| CFP Result | Lost title game | Missed CFP |
| Starting QB | CJ Carr (FR) | Carson Beck (UGA transfer) |
| Points Per Game | 34.7 | 33.1 |
| Opponent PPG | 15.5 (4th FBS) | 28.9 |
The Lean
Pick: Notre Dame -2.5
Projected Final Score: Notre Dame 28, Miami 24
Miami’s quarterback upgrade keeps this close, but Notre Dame’s defensive stability and Love’s backfield dominance provide the safer bet. Expect a physical contest with turnovers deciding the outcome — an Irish specialty.
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