ESPN’s Holly Rowe joined Mike Golic Jr. and Mike Golic Sr. on Friday’s edition of GoJo and Golic to discuss the Week 1 primetime matchup between Notre Dame and Texas A&M.
Week 1 of the college football season is in full swing, and it’s already delivering on the excitement. That will continue into Saturday night when the Fighting Irish take on the Aggies in College Station. With College GameDay broadcasting live from Aggie Park and Texas A&M legend Johnny Manziel being the guest picker, this showdown promises to be electric. The Aggies are currently 3-point favorites over at DraftKings Sportsbook.
One of the biggest storylines heading into this matchup is the return of Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman, who was sidelined for most of last season due to a foot injury. Holly emphasized that Weigman, a highly-touted recruit coming out of high school, must stay healthy to realize the immense potential he displayed as a freshman. All eyes will be on him to see if he can live up to the hype and make a significant impact this season.
Additionally, Rowe pointed out that this matchup promises to be a physical showdown that will satisfy the competitive spirit of both teams. The Aggies have revamped their offensive line, bolstering their ability to control the line of scrimmage. Rowe also commended Aggies head coach Mike Elko for his ability to make in-game changes to give his team an advantage, which will be crucial in the matchup with Notre Dame.
On the other sideline, Holly spoke to the pressure surrounding Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman heading into his third year in South Bend. Freeman and the Fighting Irish finished last season 10-3 and Rowe championed Freeman’s maturity and command of the team as key factors that have helped him grow as a coach. Further, she spotlighted the receivers and other skill player depth that will be pivotal against the Aggies.
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard will face his former head coach, Mike Elko, who coached Leonard at Duke. Rowe said that when she asked Leonard recently if his familiarity with Elko would provide him an advantage, he replied that the Aggies’ personnel differed from that of the Blue Devils. Holly spoke glowingly about Leonard’s performance at a recent practice she observed in South Bend, which is noteworthy as Leonard has +2200 odds to win the Heisman Trophy at DraftKings Sportsbook. More importantly, Holly also raved about what kind of person Leonard is, bestowing upon him the title of “Best Kid in America.”
Watch or listen to the full show below and tune into GoJo and Golic weekday mornings from 8-10 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network! See more about how to watch DraftKings Network here.
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Hour 1: It’s Travis Hunter’s Heisman, Brandon Aiyuk signs, Steph Curry signs & 99 Problems with NYC Pro Football
Hour 2: Holly Rowe Previews Notre Dame at Texas A&M: Riley Leonard, Mike Elko, Marcus Freeman and More + Jordan Brenner lists his CFP Underdogs
VIDEO
Watch GoJo and Golic every weekday on Samsung TV Plus, Roku, Xumo Play, Google TV and DraftKingsNetwork.com from 8 to 10 a.m. ET. The show is also available via audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow Mike Golic Sr. on X at @golic and Mike Golic Jr. on X at @mikegolicjr.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information
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