BookMaker Sportsbook offers multiple types of futures wagering for myriad sports. These bets have a long-term settle date. You can gamble on team win totals, which teams will make the College Football Playoff and, of course, the National Championship.
Notre Dame has won at least eight games in each of head coach Brian Kelly’s five seasons, but the Fighting Irish are looking to rebound after an 8-5 campaign in 2014.
Hopes were high after a 7-1 start, but Notre Dame lost four of its last five games. Injuries and youth hindered the Irish last season, but the experience and additional depth should make them stronger in 2015.
2015 SCHEDULE
9/5: vs. Texas
9/12: at Virginia
9/19: vs. Georgia Tech
9/26: vs. UMass
10/3: at Clemson
10/10: vs. Navy
10/17: vs. USC
10/31: at Temple
11/7: at Pittsburgh
11/14: vs. Wake Forest
11/21: at Boston College
11/28: at Stanford
No conference affiliation would hurt any team. Notre Dame isn’t any team. The Irish always play a tough schedule and they’ll open at home with Texas. They also get their biggest dose of ACC competition to date with Virginia, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest and Boston College. In addition, they have their rivalry games with Navy, USC and Stanford.
SEASON WIN TOTAL
We are in the sixth year of the Brian Kelly regime and only once has Notre Dame finished with fewer than four losses. There’s plenty of talent on the roster and as long as the Irish don’t suffer the same kind of injuries they did last year, things should be better. But an inexperienced quarterback and less experience at the backup, leaves plenty of concern. Plus there’s a difficult schedule and a history. Nine wins looks like the ceiling for the 2015 Irish.
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
Notre Dame showed marked improvement in scoring and total offense from 2013 to last season, and all but four starters return in 2015. There is no quarterback controversy after Everett Golson elected to transfer, leaving promising sophomore Malik Zaire as the starter. Zaire is a better runner than Golson, but is an inexperienced passer. If he avoids costly turnovers that crippled the Irish last season, manages the game and gets the ball to a group of talented receivers, Golson’s talents will soon be forgotten.
A stronger running game will help take some pressure off Zaire. The Irish ranked 70th in the nation last season and Zaire should help improve that ranking, but Kelly doesn’t want his quarterback toting the rock. Last season’s rushing leader Tarean Foston returns but depth is an issue with former five-star recruit Greg Bryant suspended for the first four games.
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK
It was a tale of two defenses in 2014, but most of the unit is back. And we’re not yet sure if that’s a good thing. The hope is the group that held its first five opponents to an average of 12 points will show itself more than the defense that surrendered 319 points against the last eight opponents.
To get to the next level, the Irish will need to be stronger up front than the 26 sacks collected in 2014. Linebackers Jaylon Smith and Joe Schmidt are studs while tackle Sheldon Day is strong on the line. Notre Dame has plenty of depth on the line and we could see a seven-deep rotation. There are some good players in the group, but someone needs to take the lead and become a great player. Freshman nose tackle Jerry Tillery could be that guy.
SEASON PREDICTION
This is the deepest, most well-equipped team Kelly has fielded. If the Irish can maximize Zaire’s talents at quarterback, establish a consistent ground game and play more stout up front defensively, this season could resemble 2012 more than any of the others under Kelly. That would mean playing in a New Year’s Day bowl game if not contending for a playoff spot.
Zaire won’t put up the numbers Golson did from the quarterback spot last season, but he likely won’t have to. Kelly will allow him to make the most of his skill set and if he takes care of the football that’s an improvement. Notre Dame has a history of not living up to its preseason hype and 2015 could be another one of those years.
The college football lines for every game this season will surface at BookMaker before anywhere else on the internet. Gamble on the games between every commercial break with BookMaker's live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen on the next play or how many points will be scored in the next quarter. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
