Syracuse vs. Notre Dame Predictions: Week 13 College Football Odds, Analysis & Betting Preview for November 22

Week 13 of the college football season brings one of the most intriguing matchups in the ACC-Independent landscape when the Syracuse Orange travel to South Bend, Indiana, to face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. This Saturday, November 22 showdown promises to test Syracuse’s resilience against one of the nation’s premier programs as the season winds down and postseason implications hang in the balance.

The game kicks off at 3:30 PM EST at the historic Notre Dame Stadium, with national television coverage on NBC and streaming available on Peacock. For college football fans and bettors alike, this matchup presents a fascinating study in contrasts: a struggling Syracuse team looking to salvage their season against a Fighting Irish squad with legitimate College Football Playoff aspirations.

Syracuse vs. Notre Dame Betting Odds and Lines

The betting markets tell a clear story about the expected outcome of this contest. Notre Dame enters as a prohibitive favorite, with bet105 offering the following lines for this Week 13 college football matchup:

Point Spread:

• Syracuse +35.5 (-105)
• Notre Dame -35.5 (-110)

Total Points (Over/Under): 50.5

Moneyline: Not available due to the significant spread

For bettors seeking alternative wagering options, bet105 provides several additional markets:

Alternative Totals:

• Over 52.5 (+112)
• Under 52.5 (-136)

Notre Dame Team Total:

• Over 42.5 (-113)
• Under 42.5 (-103)

Syracuse Team Total:

• Over 7.5 (+136)
• Under 7.5 (-160)

These odds reflect not just the current form of both teams, but also the substantial talent gap and seasonal performance differential between the programs. The 35.5-point spread ranks among the largest in college football this week, underscoring the challenge facing the Orange as they head into one of the sport’s most intimidating venues.

Season Overview: Tale of Two Programs

Notre Dame’s Playoff Push (8-2)

The Fighting Irish have positioned themselves firmly in the College Football Playoff conversation with an impressive 8-2 record through ten games. Their two losses have come in competitive contests against top-tier opponents, while their victories have showcased a complete football team capable of dominating in multiple facets of the game.

Notre Dame’s success this season stems from a balanced offensive attack complemented by a suffocating defense. The Fighting Irish have proven they can win in various ways: controlling the clock with a powerful ground game, stretching defenses vertically through the air, and forcing turnovers on defense when opponents attempt to mount comebacks.

Head coach Marcus Freeman has his team playing with remarkable consistency, particularly at Notre Dame Stadium, where the home-field advantage remains one of college football’s most significant factors. The stadium’s atmosphere, combined with the team’s execution, has made South Bend a difficult destination for visiting opponents all season long.

Syracuse’s Challenging Campaign (3-7)

The Orange have struggled to find consistency in what has been a disappointing season by most measures. With a 3-7 record heading into this late-season contest, Syracuse finds itself playing primarily for pride and the opportunity to develop younger players for future seasons.

Injuries, inconsistent offensive production, and defensive lapses have plagued Syracuse throughout the year. The team has shown flashes of competitiveness against quality opponents but has ultimately lacked the depth and execution needed to compete with top-tier programs on a weekly basis.

Despite the challenging record, Syracuse enters this game with nothing to lose and everything to gain. The Orange have an opportunity to play spoiler against a College Football Playoff contender and potentially build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season and offseason preparation.

Deep Dive: Notre Dame’s Offensive Dominance

The Fighting Irish offense has been nothing short of spectacular this season, ranking among the nation’s elite in multiple critical categories. Understanding the various dimensions of Notre Dame’s offensive attack provides crucial context for analyzing this matchup.

Explosive Passing Attack

Notre Dame’s aerial assault stands out as one of the most dangerous in college football. The Fighting Irish rank second in the FBS with 17% of their pass attempts resulting in gains of 20 or more yards. This explosive play percentage reflects both excellent quarterback play and a receiving corps capable of winning downfield matchups consistently.

On first down specifically, Notre Dame averages an impressive 17.9 yards per reception, the third-best mark in the nation. This efficiency on early downs creates favorable down-and-distance situations throughout games, allowing the offensive coordinator to keep defenses off-balance with diverse play-calling options.

The deep passing game poses a particular challenge for Syracuse’s secondary, which has struggled at times to prevent big plays. Notre Dame’s ability to attack vertically means Syracuse’s defensive backs must maintain perfect coverage and positioning, as a single breakdown can result in a game-changing touchdown.

The Fighting Irish quarterback has demonstrated excellent decision-making in the deep passing game, understanding when to take shots downfield and when to check down to safer options. This patience and recognition, combined with the talent of Notre Dame’s receiving targets, makes their passing attack nearly impossible to completely neutralize.

Dominant Ground Game

While the passing attack garners significant attention, Notre Dame’s rushing offense may be even more impressive. The Fighting Irish running backs are averaging 191.2 yards per game, ranking fourth in the FBS. This production reflects both elite talent in the backfield and exceptional offensive line play creating running lanes.

Notre Dame’s commitment to the run game serves multiple purposes. First, it controls the clock and limits opponent possessions, keeping Notre Dame’s defense fresh throughout games. Second, it sets up play-action opportunities that create easy completions in the passing game. Third, it wears down opposing defenses physically, often leading to late-game dominance.

The physical nature of Notre Dame’s rushing attack presents a significant challenge for Syracuse’s defensive front. The Orange will need gap integrity and disciplined tackling to prevent the Fighting Irish from gashing them on the ground. If Notre Dame establishes the run early, it will likely dictate the game’s tempo and make Syracuse’s path to competitiveness even more difficult.

Notre Dame’s multiple running backs each bring unique skill sets, allowing the coaching staff to deploy fresh legs throughout the game. This depth advantage becomes increasingly important in late November when physical wear accumulates and fourth-quarter execution determines outcomes.

Offensive Line Excellence

The foundation of Notre Dame’s offensive success lies in their offensive line play. The Fighting Irish offensive line has been among the nation’s best at both pass protection and run blocking, creating time for the quarterback and running lanes for the backs.

In pass protection, Notre Dame ranks in the top tier nationally in pressures allowed and sacks surrendered. This protection affords their quarterback time to work through progressions and find open receivers downfield. Against Syracuse’s pass rush, Notre Dame’s offensive line should have another dominant performance.

In the running game, the offensive line’s power and technique create consistent opportunities for positive yardage. The unit excels at both zone-blocking schemes and gap-scheme runs, giving the offensive coordinator flexibility in play design and allowing adjustments based on defensive alignments.

Notre Dame’s Stifling Defense

While the offensive statistics are impressive, Notre Dame’s defense has been equally dominant and may represent an even greater challenge for Syracuse’s struggling offense.

Red Zone Dominance

The Fighting Irish possess the nation’s best red zone defense, allowing opposing offenses to complete just 31% of their passes inside the 20-yard line. This remarkable statistic reflects excellent coverage in compressed spaces, disciplined gap control against the run, and a knack for generating pressure on crucial downs.

For Syracuse, this red zone defense creates an enormous challenge. Even if the Orange manage to move the ball between the 20s, converting those drives into touchdowns will be extremely difficult. Field goals won’t be enough to keep pace with Notre Dame’s offense, meaning Syracuse will need near-perfect execution in scoring situations.

The Fighting Irish’s red zone success stems from multiple factors: physical defensive line play that clogs running lanes, athletic linebackers who can cover tight ends and running backs, and cornerbacks who excel in man coverage situations. This combination makes scoring against Notre Dame inside the 20-yard line one of college football’s most difficult tasks.

Ball-Hawking Secondary

Notre Dame’s secondary has been exceptional at creating turnovers, racking up 17 interceptions through ten games, the third-most in FBS. This ability to force turnovers changes games, creating short fields for the offense and deflating opponent momentum.

The Fighting Irish defensive backs combine excellent technique with outstanding ball skills. They don’t just break up passes; they create takeaway opportunities that swing field position and momentum. Against a Syracuse passing attack that has struggled with consistency, Notre Dame’s secondary will look to force mistakes and generate additional scoring opportunities.

The interception total reflects both individual talent and effective scheme deployment. Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator puts players in position to make plays on the ball, using disguised coverages and well-timed blitzes to create confusion for opposing quarterbacks.

Defensive Line Pressure

Notre Dame’s defensive front creates consistent pressure without requiring constant blitzing, allowing the secondary to play more traditional coverages. This pressure disrupts timing routes, forces hurried throws, and creates negative plays that put offenses in difficult down-and-distance situations.

Against Syracuse’s offensive line, Notre Dame’s defensive front should have opportunities to penetrate the backfield regularly. This penetration will disrupt both the running game and passing game, potentially leading to sacks, tackles for loss, and forced turnovers.

Syracuse’s Path to Competitiveness

Despite the overwhelming odds and statistical disadvantages, Syracuse possesses some attributes that could help them stay within the substantial spread.

Recent Betting Trends

Syracuse has shown profitability on the moneyline in five of their last 12 games, suggesting they’ve performed better than expectations in certain situations. While they remain significant underdogs in this contest, these trends indicate the Orange have found ways to exceed low expectations at times this season.

The Over has hit in five of Syracuse’s last six away games, suggesting their road contests tend toward higher scoring affairs. While this could reflect defensive struggles, it also indicates the Orange have managed to contribute offensively even in hostile environments.

These betting trends don’t guarantee success against Notre Dame, but they provide some historical context suggesting Syracuse may not be completely overmatched, at least in terms of covering the substantial spread.

Opportunity for Explosive Plays

Syracuse’s best chance to stay competitive involves generating explosive plays early and keeping Notre Dame’s offense off the field. If the Orange can connect on a few deep passes or break long runs, they can keep the game within reach during the critical first half.

The Orange will need near-perfect execution in their offensive play-calling, mixing tempo changes, misdirection, and shot plays to keep Notre Dame’s defense honest. Predictable play-calling will play directly into the Fighting Irish’s strengths and likely result in a lopsided outcome.

Special Teams Impact

In games where one team holds significant advantages in talent and execution, special teams can provide equalizing opportunities. A blocked punt, kickoff return touchdown, or successful fake could dramatically shift momentum and give Syracuse hope.

The Orange special teams units will need to be exceptional in coverage situations, preventing Notre Dame from gaining additional field position advantages. Simultaneously, Syracuse’s return game must look for opportunities to create explosive plays that flip field position.

Game Environment and Atmosphere

Notre Dame Stadium represents one of college football’s most iconic and intimidating venues. The stadium’s history, combined with passionate fan support, creates an atmosphere that can overwhelm visiting teams, particularly those struggling with confidence like Syracuse.

The crowd noise, the traditions, and the sheer weight of playing at such a historic venue all favor Notre Dame. Syracuse’s young players, many experiencing Notre Dame Stadium for the first time, will need to overcome the psychological challenge of playing in this environment while executing against a superior opponent.

November weather in South Bend can add another variable to the equation. Cold temperatures, potential precipitation, and wind could affect both teams’ passing games, potentially favoring the physical running style that Notre Dame employs.

Statistical Analysis and Probability Models

Advanced statistical modeling provides additional insight into the likely outcome of this matchup. These models, which incorporate hundreds of variables including efficiency metrics, situational performance, and strength of schedule adjustments, offer a data-driven perspective on the game.

Win Probability

Statistical models give Notre Dame a commanding 75.2% probability of winning this game outright. This figure reflects not just the current records but the underlying performance metrics that suggest Notre Dame’s superiority extends across nearly every meaningful category.

The 24.8% win probability for Syracuse isn’t zero, indicating that upsets, while unlikely, remain within the realm of possibility. College football’s inherent volatility means that execution on game day, rather than season-long statistics, ultimately determines outcomes.

Spread Coverage Analysis

While Notre Dame holds a significant edge in win probability, the spread coverage probability tells a more nuanced story. The same advanced models indicate a 54.8% confidence that Syracuse will cover the +35.5 point spread.

This spread coverage probability suggests that while Notre Dame should win decisively, covering a 35.5-point spread represents a significant challenge. The Fighting Irish will need to maintain intensity throughout all four quarters and avoid a natural letdown that often occurs when heavily favored teams face overmatched opponents.

The relatively close spread coverage probability reflects several factors: the difficulty of covering large spreads even for superior teams, the potential for garbage-time scoring by Syracuse, and the possibility that Notre Dame rests starters in the fourth quarter if the game is decided early.

Key Matchups to Watch

Several individual and unit matchups will likely determine whether this game stays within the spread or becomes a blowout.

Syracuse Offensive Line vs. Notre Dame Defensive Front

Syracuse’s offensive line faces perhaps its most challenging test of the season. The unit must provide enough protection for the quarterback to execute the passing game while creating some running lanes to keep Notre Dame’s defense honest.

If Notre Dame’s defensive line dominates this matchup, Syracuse’s offense will struggle to sustain drives or generate the explosive plays needed to stay competitive. Conversely, if Syracuse’s offensive line can hold up reasonably well, the Orange gain at least a chance to move the ball and put points on the board.

Syracuse Secondary vs. Notre Dame Passing Attack

Syracuse’s defensive backs must maintain disciplined coverage while preventing the big plays that define Notre Dame’s passing attack. The Orange secondary will likely receive significant safety help, but they’ll still need to win individual matchups against talented receivers.

This matchup will test Syracuse’s ability to play complementary defense, with the secondary needing to cover long enough for the pass rush to affect the quarterback. Any breakdowns in coverage will likely result in significant gains or touchdowns given Notre Dame’s explosive play percentage.

Special Teams Battle

As mentioned earlier, special teams could provide Syracuse its best opportunity to generate game-changing plays. Field position will be crucial for the Orange, making punt and kickoff coverage units essential to keeping the game manageable.

Notre Dame’s special teams have been solid but not spectacular this season. Syracuse must capitalize on any opportunities in the kicking game to create short fields or generate momentum-swinging plays.

Coaching Considerations

The coaching matchup heavily favors Notre Dame, where Marcus Freeman has established a culture of excellence and consistency. Freeman’s ability to prepare his team for all opponents, regardless of record, means Syracuse can expect Notre Dame’s full intensity from the opening kickoff.

Syracuse’s coaching staff faces the challenge of keeping their players motivated and focused despite the long odds. The staff must develop a game plan that gives Syracuse legitimate chances to succeed while avoiding predictable approaches that play into Notre Dame’s strengths.

Impact on Season Narratives

For Notre Dame, this game represents an opportunity to pad their College Football Playoff resume with a dominant performance while staying healthy heading into a potential postseason run. The Fighting Irish coaching staff will balance the desire to make a statement with the need to keep key players fresh for more meaningful contests ahead.

Syracuse views this game as a measuring stick for their program and an opportunity to gain valuable experience for younger players who will form the core of future teams. A competitive performance, even in defeat, would provide some positive momentum heading into the offseason.

Television Broadcast and National Exposure

The NBC and Peacock broadcast brings national attention to this matchup, giving both programs exposure on one of college football’s premier television platforms. Notre Dame’s partnership with NBC continues to provide the Fighting Irish with unique visibility in the college football landscape.

For Syracuse players, performing well on this national stage provides personal exposure that can benefit future career opportunities. Even in a difficult matchup, individual performances can showcase talent to scouts, analysts, and fans across the country.

Historical Context

Notre Dame and Syracuse have met periodically over the years, with the Fighting Irish holding a significant advantage in the all-time series. These programs represent different eras of college football power: Notre Dame as one of the sport’s blue-blood programs with national championship pedigree, and Syracuse as a program with periods of success but currently rebuilding toward competitive status.

The historical context adds weight to this matchup for both programs. Notre Dame seeks to maintain its position among college football’s elite, while Syracuse hopes to eventually return to the relevance they enjoyed during their peak years.

Weather Forecast and Game Day Conditions

Late November weather in South Bend can significantly impact game planning and execution. Both coaching staffs will monitor forecasts leading up to kickoff, potentially adjusting their approaches based on expected conditions.

Cold temperatures typically favor physical running games, which would appear to benefit Notre Dame’s offensive identity. However, Syracuse could also lean more heavily on their ground game if weather conditions make passing more difficult.

Injury Reports and Availability

As of press time, both teams are expected to have their full rosters available for Saturday’s contest. However, college football’s physical nature means injury situations can change rapidly, and both coaching staffs will provide official injury reports as game day approaches.

Notre Dame’s depth gives them an advantage in absorbing potential injuries, as they can plug in talented backups without significant dropoff in performance. Syracuse’s thinner roster means any key injuries could further compromise their chances of staying competitive.

Looking Ahead: Postseason Implications

This game carries dramatically different implications for each program’s postseason outlook. Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff chances depend on winning out and potentially receiving help from other results around the country. A dominant victory over Syracuse won’t significantly boost their resume but avoids a damaging slip-up.

Syracuse’s postseason considerations revolve around next season rather than this year’s bowl eligibility, which is mathematically out of reach. The Orange coaching staff will use these final games to evaluate personnel and develop younger players who will carry the program forward.

Final Thoughts and Betting Analysis

This matchup presents a classic college football scenario: a talented team with playoff aspirations facing an overmatched opponent late in the season. The enormous spread reflects the substantial gap between these programs while acknowledging the inherent difficulty of covering such large numbers.

Notre Dame should win this game decisively, demonstrating their superiority in talent, coaching, and execution. The Fighting Irish’s balanced offensive attack and dominant defense create multiple paths to victory, and the home-field advantage at Notre Dame Stadium provides an additional edge.

However, covering 35.5 points requires sustained excellence throughout all four quarters, something even great teams struggle to maintain against lesser opponents. Syracuse, playing with nothing to lose, may find some success in garbage time or catch Notre Dame looking ahead to more significant contests.

The betting markets reflect these dynamics, with the substantial spread acknowledging Notre Dame’s dominance while creating value on Syracuse to cover. The total points line suggests a moderate scoring game, with Notre Dame’s offense capable of reaching their team total even if Syracuse struggles to contribute significantly.

For college football fans, this game offers an opportunity to watch a College Football Playoff contender in action while evaluating how Syracuse’s young players perform against elite competition. For bettors, the game presents interesting questions about spread coverage and total points that make the outcome compelling despite the anticipated lopsided final score.

How to Watch Syracuse vs. Notre Dame

Game Information:

• Date: Saturday, November 22, 2025
• Time: 3:30 PM EST
• Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana
• TV: NBC
• Streaming: Peacock
• Radio: Notre Dame Radio Network, Syracuse IMG Sports Network

For the latest odds, additional betting markets, and player props for this game, visit bet105, which offers comprehensive wagering options for all Week 13 college football matchups.

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Read our predictions for other notable games in Week 13 of NCAA Football;

Miami vs. Virginia Tech – Nov. 22 at 12:00pm ET

Missouri vs. Oklahoma – Nov. 22 at 12:00pm ET

USC vs. Oregon – Nov. 22 at 3:30pm ET

Arkansas vs. Texas – Nov. 22 at 3:30pm ET

TCU vs. Houston – Nov. 22 at 4:00pm ET

Tennessee vs Florida – Nov. 22 at 7:30pm ET

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Disclaimer: This preview uses AI-assisted statistical research alongside human analysis and editorial oversight. Despite verification efforts, data errors may occur. Readers should independently verify odds, fighter stats, and records before betting. Projections are analytical estimates, not guarantees.