SlateLines earns a commission from sportsbook links on this page. 21+ and present in a legal state. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.
Ten and a half at night in Provo? Give me the Cougs all day. BYU’s unbeaten, the defense held its last two opponents to 10 points apiece, and the current ratings say the Irish are about four points better here, not eleven. LaVell Edwards is going to be rocking, and if this is a one-score game in the fourth, those points are gold. BYU plus ten and a half is my Top Game Pick of the week.
The Matchup
- Notre Dame has rolled everybody. The Fighting Irish are 6-0, scoring 44 a game and giving up 11, rated third in the country. CJ Carr has 1,378 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and one interception, completing 70.8% of his passes.
- BYU’s defense is the reason to play. The Cougars are 5-0 and give up 13.4 points a game, with a defense rated ninth. They’ve held their last two opponents to 10 points each, at TCU and against Iowa State.
- BYU is missing its leading rusher. LJ Martin was hurt at TCU and is expected to miss four to six weeks. Bear Bachmeier has carried more of the load, with 329 passing yards and 109 rushing yards against Iowa State.
- Provo at night. Kickoff is 7:30 PM ET on ABC at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
The Number
The current ratings have Notre Dame about six and a half points better on a neutral field. Give BYU two and a half for home field, and the Irish are four-point favorites. The board has them by ten and a half. That’s a six-and-a-half-point gap, tied for the biggest this week.
Some of that gap is Martin’s injury, which the ratings don’t fully know about, and Notre Dame has won every game by at least 11. But ten and a half against a top-ten defense at home, at night, is a lot of points. It’s our Top Game Pick, still a lean, and like every pick we post, it lands on the receipts page win or lose.
In-Game Bets
- If Notre Dame scores on its first possession. Don’t chase it. BYU has given up 10 or fewer in two of its last three.
- If BYU is within a touchdown at halftime. Hold. That’s the game we’re betting on.
- If Notre Dame leads by 17. Do nothing. A lean doesn’t need a second bet.
Bottom Line
Take BYU plus ten and a half at . Lean. The current ratings make Notre Dame about a four-point favorite in Provo, and the board asks ten and a half. Martin’s injury and Notre Dame’s form are why it’s a lean, even as our Top Game Pick.
Same-Game Parlay
One read in three legs. If BYU covers, it’s most likely a low-scoring night. Two of BYU’s last three games went under 46.5, and BYU has held all three of its last opponents under 28.5 points. Every leg needs the same night, so this is one position, not three bets.
The angleBYU's defense keeps Notre Dame under its number at home.
Build it at FanDuel →FanDuel prices same-game parlays in its own builder, so there is no price here. Build the legs there and check the number before you place it.
Price: check your sportsbook for SGP pricing. Lines as posted Thursday at 4:00 PM ET; confirm them before you build the ticket. This parlay is a Game Pick.
21+ · Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER