Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame have been waiting nine months for this.
Last seen refusing an invitation to a bowl game after being controversially left out of the College Football Playoff, the Fighting Irish check into 2026 as co-favorites with Ohio State to win the national championship.
It’s hard to argue against the bookmakers.
The Irish have a terrific coach, a Heisman candidate at quarterback, an abundance of playmakers on both sides of the ball and they lead the nation in returning production.
And that’s before we get to the massive chip on their shoulder.
They tick every box you look for in a title contender, most notably having a soft schedule that will likely see them favored in every game, most of the time by double-digits.
That’s the situation for Sunday’s season opener at Lambeau Field against Wisconsin with the Irish laying 20.5 points in Green Bay.
If all goes according to plan, Notre Dame will be a machine.
CJ Carr may not be a showman, but he was one of the most efficient passers in the country last season as a redshirt freshman. The 21-year-old won’t have the luxury of handing the ball to Jeremiyah Love 20 times a game anymore, nor will he have three of his top four targets from 2025, but he will still be protected by one of the best offensive lines in the country.
Wisconsin’s defense was no slouch in 2025, ranking 22nd in SP+ and 43rd in yards per play, but they’ll have their hands full trying to get off the field against a quarterback who excelled at extending drives, even when faced with third-and-longs.
Carr’s elite decision-making should neutralize the biggest strength of the Wisconsin defense, which is a terrific pass rush anchored by Sebastian Cheeks and Mason Posa.
While the defense may be overmatched against the Irish attack, I do have faith that the Badgers will be able to move the ball. A couple of injuries up front may hurt Wisconsin, but quarterback Colton Joseph is a one-man highlight reel who can beat you through the air and on the ground.
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Against the odds, Joseph turned Old Dominion into one of the most watchable teams in the Group of 5 last season. He racked up 2,264 passing yards and tacked on 1,100 rushing yards (not including sacks) while accounting for 34 touchdowns.
With Joseph leading the way, Old Dominion went 10-3 and defeated South Florida in the Cure Bowl. It was the most successful season for the Monarchs since they made the jump to FBS in 2014.
By the time the season is over, we may be talking about this Notre Dame defense as one of the nation’s best, but it could take some time to get there.
The Irish didn’t get enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks in 2025, and the new faces they brought in to address that issue could take time to get up to speed.
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Needless to say, it’s imperative to get in the face of a dual-threat maniac like Joseph.
When you close your eyes and imagine a matchup between Notre Dame and Wisconsin, you probably conjure an image of an old-school defensive battle.
In reality, I think Sunday’s showdown could be the opposite.
Trust both of these excellent quarterbacks to do their bit and get you Over the 46.5-point total.
The Play: Over 46.5 points (-110, DraftKings)
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Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
