The road to the College Football Playoff for No. 7 Notre Dame or No. 20 Texas A&M could begin with a win in the matchup between the two at Kyle Field this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET. This primetime event caps a tripleheader of NCAA football action on ABC. The Texas A&M Aggies (-3) have opened as slight favorites on the point spread, with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish getting +125 odds on the moneyline to pull off a road upset. Keep an eye on odds movement, as the Irish have dropped to +2.5 on the spread at some books following some early action.
Below, we’re taking a look at the college football odds and betting lines for the matchup. Sports betting promos are available to new customers at the outset of the college football season.
Texas A&M favored over Notre Dame ahead of home opener
New Texas A&M coach Mike Elko served as the defensive coordinator for Notre Dame in 2017 and oversaw a defensive revival for Duke over the past three seasons. Elko inherits a program that went 12-13 overall the past two seasons under Jimbo Fisher. Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman (19-8 over the past two seasons) is looking to earn his first trip to the CFP and the program’s first appearance since 2020.
Top offer for Notre Dame & Texas A&M
Notre Dame-Texas A&M analysis
How Notre Dame could win
Both of these teams have elite quarterbacks, but the Irish might have the best secondary in the nation. Led by Nagurski winner Xavier Watts and projected first-round pick Ben Morrison, Notre Dame’s pass defense allowed the third-fewest passing yards per game (164.8) and forced interceptions on 4% of opponent throws last season. Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman has been inactive since Week 4 of last year, and he might make a few critical misreads against those ball-hawking defensive backs.
While Riley Leonard will be playing behind an almost completely new offensive line in a hostile environment, the veteran quarterback is capable of maintaining his poise. A big-bodied dual threat with good mobility, Leonard could pick up some key conversions if the Aggies get overly aggressive with their pass rush.
How Texas A&M could win
Energy should provide a major motivating factor for the Aggies with 100,000 fans packed into Kyle Field, brimming with optimism at the prospect of a new era under Elko. Crowd noise could play a tangible role in Notre Dame’s pass protection, with the Irish starting two freshmen (Anthonie Knapp and Sam Pendleton) on the left side of a line that has just six total starts among all five members. Texas A&M has a strong pass rush, led by Shemar Stewart, Shemar Turner, and Nic Scourton, that produced the second-highest sack rate (11%) in FBS last season.
But can the Aggies move the ball against Al Golden’s stalwart Notre Dame defense? Weigman could show some rust early, but he’s also a dual threat who can utilize his speed to keep the chains moving. The five-star recruit has only thrown two interceptions over 13 starts the past two seasons, and he will be working with veteran receivers Jahdae Walker, Moose Muhammad III, and a huge target in 6-foot-6 wideout Noah Thomas. The Aggies can rotate carries between Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels to try to stay ahead of the chains.
