A battle of top 10 teams looms in South Beach to help open a new college football season, and Sportzino’s free sportsbook is here to break down the full NCAAF odds and NCAAF prediction from Hard Rock Stadium.
Led by a stifling defense and a dual-threat quarterback in Riley Leonard, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish made it all the way to the national championship game a year ago before falling short against the Buckeyes.
Despite Leonard’s departure to the NFL, the Fighting Irish still seek a college football playoff spot in 2025, entering the year ranked sixth in the nation.
Miami, meanwhile, is coming off an underwhelming 2024. The Hurricanes finished a distant third in the ACC and settled for a pre-New Year’s bowl game, despite having the future number one overall pick in Cam Ward under center.
Though Ward’s gone, Miami’s got its sights set on conference supremacy as it enters the year 10th in the nation.
With an exciting battle on the schedule this Sunday in South Beach, check out our Notre Dame vs. Miami prediction, including the full American football odds, with kickoff set for August 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Matchup: Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Miami Hurricanes Overview
Teams: Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Miami Hurricanes
Date: Sunday, August 31, 2025
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Hard Rock Stadium
Win Probabilities
The NCAAF win probabilities have been generated using insights from recent NCAAF games in combination with expert NCAAF picks and predictions.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are entering the season ranked number six in the country and have been given a 59.1% chance to win this NCAAF game. Meanwhile, the Miami Hurricanes enter the year 10th in the nation and have a 50% chance, according to the NCAAF win probabilities.
Projected Final Score
The projected final score anticipates a close game in the Sunshine State, but for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to prevail with a final score of Notre Dame Fighting Irish 24-20 Miami Hurricanes.
Expert Prediction: Who Wins?
Over the years, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Miami Hurricanes have put together some classic games.
From the “Catholics vs. Convicts” rivalry in the 1980s and ‘90s, to Miami dominance around the turn of the century, to a Fighting Irish resurgence, these two famous programs are deeply intertwined.
Ahead of the newest chapter in a great rivalry, the adversaries are sharing parallels, too. The Hurricanes bid goodbye to one of the best players in recent program history, with quarterback Cam Ward taken first overall in last spring’s NFL Draft.
The Irish, meanwhile, rode tough-as-nails dual-threat Riley Leonard through the college football playoffs before he too departed for the NFL, staying in-state with the Indianapolis Colts.
Despite the turnover on both sidelines, Miami and Notre Dame both set out in 2025 with expectations of landing in the college football playoff. With the weight of historic expectations for these rivals, it sets up a thriller on Sunday in South Beach.
Why the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Can Cover
Last year only further proved what was already known: Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman can coach up defenses with the best of them.
The Irish defense powered their team to the playoffs, albeit wavering against the truly toughest competition. Yet, the expectation is—rightly—that the Irish will run it back with similarly dominant defensive showings.
Similarly, the relentless physicality of the Irish offensive line and the depth of their running back corps are expected to be sustained. So, what’s going to be different for Notre Dame after a season of good, but not good enough? The potential for newfound explosiveness on offense.
In turning the keys of the offense over to redshirt freshman CJ Carr, Freeman and the Irish coaching staff are making a bet on raising the ceiling of the offense and, by extension, the team.
If Carr is ready for prime time—as Freeman hopes—then he can maximize skill position players who were limited by Riley Leonard’s own limitations last season.
If an explosive element is added to a team with defensive dominance and physicality on offense, all of a sudden it’s less about Notre Dame covering—and more about how much it will win by.
For more expert breakdowns, check out our Ohio State Buckeyes vs Texas Longhorns Predictions and other in-depth NCAAF match previews.
Why the Miami Hurricanes Can Cover
While there were highs, ultimately, it’s difficult to frame Cam Ward’s brief time in Miami as anything other than underwhelming for head coach Mario Cristobal.
The former Oregon head coach hasn’t yet delivered on the promise he arrived with, but he’s counting on the type of approach that would enable the Hurricanes to test Notre Dame’s defense.
In turning the keys over to incoming transfer Carson Beck at quarterback, Cristobal has pedigree under center. While Beck faced a storm of criticism at the helm of Georgia’s regression post-Stetson Bennett IV, he is still capable of putting up gaudy numbers.
Across the last two years in Athens, Beck totalled nearly 7,500 yards through the air with 52 touchdowns to 18 interceptions. Last season represented a step back, but completing 72% of attempts in 2023 is a reason for optimism.
Beck will be flanked by a pair of veterans, with CJ Daniels transferred in from LSU and Keelan Marion incoming from BYU. Though Daniels failed to stand out in LSU’s wide receiver corps, he did total 55 catches for 1,067 yards and 10 touchdowns at Liberty in 2023, proving his explosive play bona fides. Marion, similarly, didn’t pop for the Cougars in the Big 12 but could slide into a receiver corps expected to rotate four deep.
In counting on an experienced quarterback in Beck—like he did with Ward before him—and actually surrounding him with talent, Cristobal appears to be learning from recent failings and bolstering talent around a proven quarterback.
As ‘24 showed, it’s not a sure thing, but it’s a savvy decision, and if it clicks, Miami can stress a Fighting Irish defense that typically dictates affairs.
Current Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Miami Hurricanes Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish | -145 | -2.5 (-120) | O49.5 (-120) |
| Miami Hurricanes | +100 | +2.5 (-120) | U49.5 (-120) |
How to Make Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Miami Hurricanes Picks
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