Best College Football Parlays: Week 1 (Notre Dame vs. Miami)

Back in the day, this was it. This was the rivalry of the 1980s. If you’ve heard Snoop Dogg rap, “Like the U in the 80s” in DJ Khaled’s All I Do Is Win, you know. These teams didn’t just have a rivalry; they really hated each other. Notre Dame called it the “Catholic vs. Convicts,” making fun of Miami’s supposed thuggery. The Hurricanes lived it and loved it.

Things are different in 2025. The rivalry was rekindled a bit in 2010 after a 20-year hiatus, as the teams met in the Sun Bowl. The Fighting Irish thumped Miami in a vacated game in Chicago in October 2012, and then they met in South Bend in October 2016 in a great contest, with the Irish winning 30-27. But it wasn’t the 80s. The hatred wasn’t there. The teams weren’t good.

However, in this 2025 reboot, the sequel could very well live up to the hype. We have a new cast of characters, but both teams enter this battle with sky-high expectations, and each is ranked inside the top 10. This game has the potential to be another memorable matchup in this important rivalry.

Notre Dame turns to redshirt freshman quarterback CJ Carr, and he is expected to depend upon portal import wide receiver Malachi Fields as his big playmaker in the receiving game. Running back Jeremiyah Love is a Heisman Trophy hopeful, and he should be the workhorse, although running back Jadarian Price is also more than capable.

Miami welcomes its own portal addition, as former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck lands in South Florida with a heaping helping of NIL bread. Defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman takes over, and his first order of business might be getting his defense to stop acting like The U from the ’80s and play with a little more discipline. The Hurricanes drew a ton of yellow laundry onto the field in 2024, ranking 120th in penalty yards. Running back Mark Fletcher and wide receiver CJ Daniels will be the big skill position helpers for Beck.

The Fighting Irish were tripped up 34-23 last time out in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Ohio State. That was with Riley Leonard at quarterback. Carr has the potential to be much better, especially if Fields is everything as advertised. The Irish have a nice one-two punch in the backfield, too, and the Hurricanes could be a little bit of a mish-mash unit on defense early on before settling in.

The Hurricanes have been fighting to get back to the top of the college football heap, but they always seem to underperform. It would be huge for the program if it were to win a marquee game, but expect Miami to come up just a bit short.

Let’s back Carr, Love and Marcus Freeman, who are on a mission after coming within a whisker of winning the National Championship last season. Notre Dame opened its season with a trip in the heat to Texas A&M last season, and it came away with a double-digit point win. Expect more of the same here.

In addition, let’s go high on the total, as Carr and Beck should sling it around nicely, particularly in the second half, as they get a little more comfortable.

Picks: Notre Dame -2.5 (-122) & Over 50.5 Points (-110)

Best Same-Game Parlay

• Notre Dame -2.5 (-122)
• Over 50.5 Points (-110)

Parlay Odds: +224

Roll the Dice Same-Game Parlay

• Notre Dame -2.5 (-122)
• Over 50.5 Points (-110)
• Jeremiyah Love 60+ Rush Yards (-230)
• Jeremiyah Love Anytime Touchdown Scorer (-220)

Parlay Odds: +334