#3 Notre Dame (1-0) kicked off its season on a high note last weekend. The Irish reeled off a dominant 41-13 victory against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field. Now, they’ll travel to South Bend for a matchup with Rice (1-0). ND is 5-0 all time in this matchup; can Rice earn a massive upset on Saturday?
The Fighting Irish are listed as 44.5-point favorites over the Owls, with the total set at O/U 54.5 points. Below is my full preview, prediction and best bet for Saturday’s Rice vs. Notre Dame Week 2 matchup.
Rice vs. Notre Dame prediction, preview
This spot has been surprisingly dangerous for Notre Dame in recent years. The Irish have lost three of their last four home openers, including massive upsets against Northern Illinois and Marshall. That should give Rice a sliver of hope, despite being outgunned at every position on the field. This Owls squad is all about time of possession, prioritizing the run game like few other squads. Last week against FCS Houston Christian, they churned out 465 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. In 2025, head coach Scott Abell’s crew ranked 25th in the nation with 192.8 rushing yards per game.
With that being said, much of that work on the ground came out of necessity. Quarterback Jacurri Brown is a true dual-threat, comfortable making plays with his legs instead of his arm. The UCF transfer only completed three passes vs. HCU, but he logged 98 rushing yards. Still, a few deep shots downfield are likely needed against a defense of Notre Dame’s caliber. Unfortunately, this group of wide receivers is lacking in experience. It’s worth noting that starting running back Quinton Jackson has already been ruled out due to a knee injury. Backup Tyvonn Byers just enjoyed a 104-yard rushing game last Saturday, so it’s not all doom and gloom in the backfield.
Rice isn’t the only team with a difference maker at running back. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price are gone, but the Fighting Irish remain committed to running the ball. Aneyas Williams was a standout on Sunday, plodding away for 90 rushing yards and two touchdowns vs. the Badgers. The Owls field a middling run defense, ranking seventh in the American Conference last season in opponent rush yards per attempt (4.23).
The Wisconsin victory was primarily a result of Notre Dame’s terrific defense. In terms of passing, it wasn’t a banner day for CJ Carr. The quarterback threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns, completing 65.5% of his pass attempts. There’s reason to believe the Heisman contender will improve going forward. That could be as soon as this Saturday; Rice’s pass defense is suspect at best. The Owls surrendered 8.6 yards per attempt to opposing passers last season, 124th out of 136 FBS schools. Still, head coach Marcus Freeman would likely prefer to drain some clock and force Brown into throwing the ball.
Best Bet: Rice vs. Notre Dame u31.5 1st Half (-125)
Notre Dame is overflowing with talent, but this team has a knack for starting off sluggish on offense. That was the case last weekend vs. Wisconsin, and a stalled opening drive or two wouldn’t come as a shock. Scoring could be at a premium regardless given Rice’s run-heavy approach. Before the Irish pour it on in the second half, don’t expect a shootout in South Bend.
