The Army Black Knights (9-0, 7-0 AAC) and Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9-1) will clash on Saturday night in a neutral-site game at Yankee Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
The Irish are contending to make the College Football Playoff, currently in line to host a first-round game in South Bend if they can win their next two games.
Army is undefeated in its first season as an AAC member, earning a championship game spot on Friday, Dec. 6.
The next three weeks are crucial in determining a spot in the College Football Playoff, an AAC title and the Commander-In-Chief Trophy against Navy on Dec. 14.
Notre Dame opened as a 16-point favorite before early money on Army steamed the number to Irish -14. The over/under sits at 44.5 total points.
Read on for my Army vs. Notre Dame predictions and college football picks for Saturday, Nov. 23.
Army Black Knights vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Prediction
- Army vs. Notre Dame Pick: Notre Dame -14
My Notre Dame vs. Army best bet is Notre Dame to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at bet365, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Army vs. Notre Dame Odds, Line, Spread
| Army Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+15 -110 | 45.5 -112o / -109u | +410 |
| Notre Dame Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-15 -110 | 45.5 -112o / -109u | -590 |
- Army vs. Notre Dame Spread: Notre Dame -15 · Army +15
- Army vs. Notre Dame Over/Under: 45.5
- Army vs. Notre Dame Moneyline: Notre Dame -590, Army +410
Army vs. Notre Dame NCAAF Week 13 Preview
Army Black Knights Betting Preview
Army's advanced analytics come with an asterisk, having played the 133rd-ranked strength of schedule.
Its toughest opponents this season come in a trio of teams ranked just inside the top 100 of SP+ defensive rankings (Rice, Air Force and East Carolina). The best rush defense out of that group was Air Force in Week 8 when the Black Knights averaged 5.3 yards on the ground over 56 rushing attempts.
The better comparison would be the Falcons, another service academy with the triple option as a program staple. Army averaged 5.1 yards on 42 rushing attempts, generating five explosive runs.
Running back Kanye Udoh has been elusive and physical, averaging 3.4 yards after first contact with 17 attempts for double digits.
Quarterback Bryson Daily leads the team in rushing yards and has been integral to the triple-option attack. After missing the Air Force game with an "undisclosed injury or illness," the junior was back to full speed against North Texas.
Play action was used on just three offensive snaps against North Texas, a number that is expected to increase against Notre Dame.
The Black Knights defense has been excellent in limiting methodical possessions and opponents' scoring opportunities. Both Defensive Quality Drives and Finishing Drives numbers rank in the top five nationally, but stopping opponents' rushing attacks has been problematic.
Army is outside the top 100 in Defensive Line Yards and Stuff Rate, but a stiff secondary has limited explosives. The Black Knights are 46th in broken tackles allowed, according to Sports Info Solutions.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Betting Preview
Notre Dame continues to slice through opponents with a rank of 82nd in strength of schedule.
The Irish posted 50-burgers in recent games against Florida State and Navy, rushing behind an offensive line that's top-30 in Line Yards and Stuff Rate.
Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has dominated with inside zone, creating a 55% Success Rate while mixing in other successful run concepts of man and counter.
Duke transfer quarterback Riley Leonard leads the offense with explosive running backs Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love.
The offense ranks in the top 25 in Success Rate on first and second down, each with a heavy tendency to run the ball.
The Irish offense starts to sputter in known passing downs, posting a Success Rate rank of 91st thanks to a Passing EPA rank outside the top 100. If Notre Dame can stay in standard downs, defenses will continue to be pushed around in the trench.
Defensive coordinator Al Golden has created one of the best pass defenses in the nation, but the strategy for the secondary against Army will be the play-action pass.
Defensive backs will be asked to step up in the box and contribute against the triple-option ground attack.
The Irish limited Navy's ground attack earlier this season, allowing a Success Rate below the national average and limiting the Midshipmen to two explosive runs.
Notre Dame vs. Army Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Notre Dame and Army match up statistically:
Army Offense vs. Notre Dame Defense
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 1 | 71 | |
| Line Yards | 1 | 49 | |
| Pass Success | 26 | 1 | |
| Havoc | 1 | 27 | |
| Finishing Drives | 12 | 4 | |
| Quality Drives | 2 | 2 |  |
Notre Dame Offense vs. Army Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 34 | 99 | |
| Line Yards | 24 | 113 | |
| Pass Success | 72 | 25 | |
| Havoc | 21 | 85 | |
| Finishing Drives | 8 | 2 | |
| Quality Drives | 27 | 3 | |
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 52 | 23 |
| PFF Coverage | 43 | 2 |
| Special Teams SP+ | 28 | 96 |
| Middle 8 | 9 | 1 |
| Seconds per Play | 33.9 (134) | 28.6 (103) |
| Rush Rate | 88% (1) | 56% (47) |
Army vs. Notre Dame Picks, Best Bets
Army has not been a pure triple-option team with Daily this season, mixing the same rate of man and outside-zone concepts.
Notre Dame has been ruthless against teams running outside zone, producing a 61% Success Rate while allowing an explosive on just one of every 20 attempts.
Those numbers are similar against man-run concepts, a signal that if Army wants to have success on offense, inside zone and play action must be in scope.
Notre Dame struggles against inside zone with a putrid 44% Success Rate. The good news for the Irish is Army's offense has utilized inside zone on just 11% of rushing attempts this season.
There's reason to think Golden will have the Notre Dame defense prepared for the play-action pass. Navy ran play action on six passing attempts in Week 9, as the Irish allowed just three receptions with an average depth of target of 13.2 yards.
On the other side of the ball, there is reason to believe there will be no resistance to the Notre Dame ground attack.
The Irish's heavy inside zone should see no resistance against an Army defense that has struggled to create any kind of efficiency against any run concept. The Black Knights have posted a 42% Success Rate against inside zone with a low big-play rate. 
Our Action Network Betting Power Ratings project Notre Dame by 16 with a total just over the current market number of 45.
The Black Knights defense has yet to face an offense with this kind of firepower on the ground, already posting abysmal numbers against less potent rushing attacks.
Methodicals and explosives are expected on the ground, but with Army's slow style of play on offense, expect possessions to be limited.
The Black Knights average more than 33 seconds per play, potentially limiting the Irish offense to just seven possessions in the game.
Look to grab Notre Dame at the key number of two touchdowns, buying any hooks to -120 if needed.
Pick: Notre Dame -14 or Better
Army vs. Notre Dame Channel, How to Watch, Start Time, Location
| Location: | Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY |
| Date: | Saturday, Nov. 23 |
| Kickoff Time: | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | NBC |
Army vs. Notre Dame will be played at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET. You can stream the game live on NBC.
Army vs. Notre Dame Betting Trends
Army vs. Notre Dame Weather
