The Stanford Cardinal (2-3) play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-1) for the Legends Trophy on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET at Notre Dame Stadium and will air on NBC.
The No. 11 Irish are 23.5-point home favorites in a game with a low total of just 45.5 points.
The game projects as a low-scoring affair, but with the individual matchups on the field, I could see this playing out with an even lower score than the market expects.
Let’s examine my Stanford vs Notre Dame predictions and my college football picks for Saturday's slate.
Stanford vs Notre Dame Odds, Lines, Pick
| Stanford Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+22.5 -110 | 45 -112o / -108u | +1100 |
| Notre Dame Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-22.5 -110 | 45 -112o / -108u | -2100 |
- Stanford vs Notre Dame spread: Notre Dame -22.5
- Stanford vs Notre Dame over/under: 45 points
- Stanford vs Notre Dame moneyline: Notre Dame -2100
- Stanford vs Notre Dame pick: Under 45.5
Stanford vs Notre Dame Preview
Stanford Football
Stanford is 2-3 to begin the season, showing improvement from Troy Taylor’s first season as head coach last year when they finished 3-9.
Stanford's offense ranks 88th nationally in Success Rate, 116th in Havoc allowed, 33rd in Finishing Drives, and 51st in Explosiveness.
Quarterback Ashton Daniels has struggled this season, averaging -0.29 EPA per dropback. But that's not entirely his fault, given his offensive line ranks 74th nationally in PFF's Pass Blocking grades.
Stanford's rush game has been a weakness, as the Cardinal ranks 99th in Rush Success Rate behind an offensive line that ranks 123rd in PFF's Run Block grades. They may have a rough time against Notre Dame's stout defensive front.
Stanford ranks 110th nationally in Success Rate allowed and 83rd in Defensive Finishing Drives. They don't produce much Havoc but have done a nice job limiting explosive plays.
Still, the secondary is a problem, ranking 101st nationally in PFF's Coverage grades and 110th in Pass Success Rate allowed. The Cardinal can get some pressure up front, but the secondary can't hold on the back end.
Stanford's front seven has been better, ranking 25th nationally in PFF's Rush Defense grades and 38th in PFF's Tackling grades. The Cardinal have done a nice job limiting big rushes, ranking in the top 10 nationally in Rush Explosiveness allowed.
Notre Dame Football
A shocking early season loss to Miami (OH) took some of the shine off Notre Dame, but the Irish are still 4-1 and a potential playoff contender.
Quarterback Riley Leonard hasn't met expectations, averaging -0.04 EPA per Dropback, while the Irish rank 98th nationally in Pass Success Rate. That said, the offensive line ranks 108th in PFF's Pass Blocking grades, so Leonard hasn't been handed a clean pocket.
The ground game hasn't been strong, either, with the Irish ranking 71st nationally in Rush Success Rate. They rank second in Rush Explosives, as Leonard and top running back Jeremiyah Love always threaten to break one loose. The offensive line ranks top 40 nationally in PFF's Run Blocking grades, so that's a bonus.
Notre Dame's defense ranks 31st nationally in Success Rate allowed, 14th in Explosiveness allowed, and 38th in Defensive Finishing Drives. However, the Irish haven't generated enough Havoc despite boasting a decent pass rush.
The secondary has been the defense's strength, ranking among the top five FBS teams in Pass Success Rate allowed and PFF's Coverage grades.
Stanford vs Notre Dame Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Stanford and Notre Dame match up statistically:
Stanford Offense vs. Notre Dame Defense
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 79 | 77 |  |
| Line Yards | 89 | 95 | |
| Pass Success | 103 | 2 | |
| Havoc | 132 | 22 | |
| Finishing Drives | 86 | 14 | |
| Quality Drives | 62 | 14 | |
Notre Dame Offense vs. Stanford Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 70 | 52 | |
| Line Yards | 43 | 10 | |
| Pass Success | 100 | 111 | |
| Havoc | 47 | 66 | |
| Finishing Drives | 24 | 88 | |
| Quality Drives | 65 | 92 | |
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 54 | 15 |
| PFF Coverage | 93 | 4 |
| Special Teams SP+ | 8 | 12 |
| Middle 8 | 80 | 3 |
| Seconds per Play | 28.6 (95) | 28.9 (103) |
| Rush Rate | 54% (73) | 55% (52) |
Stanford vs Notre Dame Prediction
The way to attack Notre Dame’s defense is on the ground, but I don’t think Stanford can.
The Cardinal have struggled to rush the ball, and Notre Dame's elite secondary should keep Daniels in check.
Still, I don't have much confidence in Notre Dame's offense. The Irish are over-reliant on explosives, and Stanford's defensive scheme keeps everything in front.
The Cardinal defense has held up against the run, so Lenoard must throw to move the ball, and I'm betting against him. Notre Dame's poor pass-blocking offensive line likely lets Stanford's pass rush through, making Leonard's life even tougher.
Stanford ranks 63rd nationally in seconds per play, while Notre Dame ranks 104th. Stanford games are 4-1 to the under, while Notre Dame games are 3-2 to the under.
So, I expect more of the same: a clock-churning affair with little scoring.
Pick: Under 45.5 (Play to 43.5)
Stanford vs Notre Dame Start Time, Channel, Streaming, How to Watch
| Location: | Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN |
| Date: | Saturday, Oct. 12 |
| Kickoff Time: | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | NBC |
Stanford goes head-to-head with Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, on Saturday, October 12, at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
Stanford vs Notre Dame Weather
