Virginia Tech at Notre Dame Week 13 Free Betting Picks

Posted by Jordan Walterss on Thursday,July 28, 2016 11:02, EDT in

Notre Dame is a full member of the ACC in every sport but football. However, the football team is contracted to play five games against ACC members each year. And one of those this season is the Irish’s first-ever matchup with Virginia Tech. Notre Dame should be a home favorite on college football lines for the Week 12 game.

Taking a Closer Look at the Virginia Tech at Notre Dame Week 13 Free Betting Picks & TV Info

When: Saturday, Nov. 19, 3:35 PM ET
Where: Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, Ind.
TV: NBC
Stream: NBCSports.com
Radio: Virginia Tech / Notre Dame
Opening NCAAF Lines: TBA

As noted, this will be the first meeting between the Hokies and the Fighting Irish. The two programs will meet again in Blacksburg on October 13, 2018.

Why Bet Virginia Tech?

Well, I probably wouldn’t. But I like the hiring of new head coach Justin Fuente, a rising star in the college football world. Fuente, 39, has been viewed as an up-and- comer with a stellar offensive mind. A Tulsa, Okla., native who finished his college football career as the quarterback at Murray State in 1999 – coincidentally, former Tech coach Frank Beamer coached there from 1981 to ’86 – Fuente revived a moribund Memphis program. The Tigers hired Fuente in 2012 after going 5-31 over the previous three seasons. In October of last season, they reached No. 13 in the Associated Press poll, the highest ranking in team history, and boasted a program-record 15-game winning streak.

Before his four-year stint with the Tigers, Fuente was in charge of TCU’s high powered offense. He’ll look to do the same with Virginia Tech as he’ll introduce his spread offense. Of course he replaces the legendary Beamer. Bud Foster, the Hokies’ top internal candidate to succeed Beamer, will retain his current role as defensive coordinator. Foster, 56, had been a member of Beamer’s coaching staff for 29 seasons and defensive coordinator since 1995.

Virginia Tech is losing starting quarterback in Michael Brewer. Redshirt senior Brenden Motley and incoming No. 1 JuCo recruit Jerod Evans are expected to compete for the job. Evans was Fuente’s first major signing. Evans fared the best at the spring game, throwing for 104 yards and a touchdown, although that was just one practice of 15. Motley’s actually played in Division I games before, holding his own in relief of an injured Brewer before things started to catch up to him once ACC season started.

The Hokies do return their top two offensive producers. As a freshman in 2015 running back Travon McMillian rushed 200 times for 1,099 yards and seven touchdowns. Junior wideout Isaiah Ford caught 75 balls for 1,164 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Why Bet Notre Dame?

The Irish have one of the 10 most talented rosters in NCAA football. But the team does have to replace such stars as running back C.J. Prosise, receiver Will Fuller and linebacker Jaylen Brown. Despite only catching 28 passes for 363 yards last year, Torii Hunter Jr. is Notre Dame’s leading returning receiver, which is more a nod to the production lost from Fuller, Chris Brown and Amir Carlisle. QB DeShone or Malik Zaire will need to figure out who their reliable pass-catcher is. The good news is Notre Dame has had one every year of the Kelly era, from Michael Floyd to Tyler Eifert to T.J. Jones to Fuller.

At running back and in Taraen Folston and Josh Adams, Notre Dame should have a dynamic 1-2 punch out of its backfield this fall. Adams broke Autry Denson’s freshman rushing record with 838 yards last year. The lightly-recruited Pennsylvania native showed excellent speed, vision and running back instincts — the latter of which were even more apparent in comparison to those of Prosise, who nonetheless rushed for over 1,000 yards last year. Folston suffered a torn ACL on his third carry of the season against Texas in Week 1, which robbed him on a chance to build on his 889-yard sophomore season.

My Free Betting Pick

The Irish are likely going to run the table at home this season so take them here on college football odds.