No. 1 Miami Underdog at No. 4 Notre Dame

No. 1 Miami visits No. 4 Notre Dame in a pivotal matchup, with the Hurricanes unexpectedly favored by at least a touchdown despite their top ranking after star receiver Malachi Toney was injured. Notre Dame is seeking a signature win to strengthen its College Football Playoff case, but questions remain about whether its defense can contain Miami, given past struggles in high-profile games. ESPN analyst Greg McElroy is picking the Irish, arguing that short passes, effective running and fourth-down aggression could exploit weaknesses in Miami’s defense. Miami has won its last two meetings with Notre Dame, but its most recent victory in South Bend came in 1984. The game is also expected to draw more than 100,000 visitors and deliver a substantial economic boost to the South Bend area.