A NCCAF Rose Bowl Game Day Preview between the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame Vs Crimson Tide of Alabama – 2021 New Years Day.
When: 4:00 PM EST, January 1, 2021
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
TV: ESPN
Point Spread: Alabama -20.5
OVER/UNDER Game Total: 65.5
Notre Dame
Record: 10-1
ATS: 5-6
L10: 9-1
Alabama
Record: 11-9
ATS: 8-3
L10: 10-0
Notre Dame Vs Alabama Rose Bowl Game Day Preview
20.5 Point Spread??? It’s a huge mismatch on paper and No. 4 Notre Dame can only pray it doesn’t lead to another painful memory when they battle No. 1 Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal on New Years Day.
When the teams last met eight seasons ago in the BCS title game, Alabama destroyed Notre Dame by putting up the first 35 points of a 42-14 route. The Crimson Tide beat down Notre Dame in the trenches, leading to a 265-32 edge in rushing yardage.
Notre Dame
In looking back to that initial BCS Notre Dame Vs Alabama Game, coach Brian Kelly said “We’re much better prepared than we were in 2012 in terms of the physicality on both lines.” For this go around “We have the ability to move the football, certainly.”
Notre Dame (10-1) doesn’t want to get into a shootout with Alabama, but they have scored 40 points six times this season.
The team defense ranks 14th in scoring (18.6 points per game). This was great early in the season by limiting five of the first six opponents to 13 or fewer points. But it sprung many leaks towards the tail end of the season by allowing more than 30 in three of the last five games.
Alabama
The Alabama Crimson Tide scored 50 points six times this season and have averaged 49.7 points per game. They are led by multiple Heisman Trophy finalists.
DeVonta Smith could be the first receiver to win the Heisman Trophy since Michigan’s Desmond Howard in 1991. He has 98 receptions for 1,511 yards and 17 touchdowns. During last Saturday’s 52-46 win over Florida in the SEC title game, Smith (3,620 yards) passed Amari Cooper (3,463 from 2012-14) as Alabama’s all-time leader in receiving yardage.
Quarterback Mac Jones also is in the Heisman mix and has thrown for 3,739 yards and 32 touchdowns against four interceptions.
“We’ve certainly been very productive on offense,” Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban.
Notre Dame Vs Alabama Facts
- Fighting Irish are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 non-conference games.
- Crimson Tide are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
- Under is 4-0 in Fighting Irish last 4 vs. SEC.
Notre Dame Vs Alabama Alternative Fantasy Football (NCAAF)-Statement Games Picks
Notre Dame 20 Alabama 35
10 PT Pick: Devonta Smith OVER 90.5 Receiving YDS
9 PT Pick: Mac Jones UNDER 350.5 Yards Passing
8 PT Pick: Total PTS UNDER 66.5
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