The line on this week’s New Mexico at Notre Dame game would have been significant even if the Fighting Irish didn’t have an extra week to prepare. Given the fact that Notre Dame had a bye last week, the action on the Irish in the Week 3 college football betting odds favors them even more heavily.
Perhaps more significant is the fact that the other two Power-5 teams in the Hoosier State, Indiana and Purdue, are home underdogs. For the Hoosiers, defending the home turf is a daunting task.
Purdue, Indiana, Notre Dame betting odds
While Indiana enters this game with an identical record as its incoming foe, the sixth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes bring the hype. Quarterback Justin Fields has performed well so far.
The Hoosiers need to contain Fields and get his counterpart going as well. Michael Penix Jr. has looked stellar through two games, albeit against defenses that pale in comparison to the Buckeyes’.
Purdue shares Indiana’s challenge of an imposing squad coming in. It’s a non-conference game for the Boilermakers, however.
The biggest question in this game is the health of Purdue quarterback Elijah Sindelar. His concussion recovery status currently puts his availability for Saturday in doubt.
If backup Jack Plummer can’t guide the Boilermakers’ passing game, the contest could get ugly. Purdue’s defense has been suspect this season, and the running game nonexistent.
Chances for New Mexico to pull off the upset in South Bend also seem nonexistent. The Irish look vastly superior in every phase of the game for their home opener.
Because of that superiority, the spread on Notre Dame’s game is among the largest in the nation this weekend.
Breaking down Week 3 college football betting odds
It’s nearly impossible to make any money betting on the Irish at Indiana sportsbooks this week. Caesars, which operates the books at Indiana Grand and Horseshoe Hammond, has a moneyline of -15000 on Notre Dame.
Bets on the 34.5- or 35-point spread or a total of 62 or 63.5 at those and other books all have negative odds, as well. FanDuel sportsbook, available at the Belterra and Blue Chip, is among some of the more favorable odds on other games, however.
Caesar’s has the best moneylines on the Boilermakers and Hoosiers. Those are +125 and +560. The consensus point spread on Indiana is +16.5, while books vary on Purdue between +2.5 and +3.
There is a slight variance on the point totals of those games as well. Books have a total of either 60.5 or 61 on the Hoosiers’ game. The Boilermakers’ game carries a total of either 51 or 51.5.
Despite those variances, none of those bets carry positive odds. Taking Indiana or Purdue to win straight up is one of the few ways to potentially make money while sports betting in Indiana this week. That narrative is shared by other teams in neighboring states.
Odds on nearby teams: Illinois, Michigan State and more
Based on the odds on Indiana, it should be obvious that finding favorable lines on Ohio State will be difficult this week. The Buckeyes’ nemesis, Michigan, is on a bye this week.
Illinois, Michigan State, and Northwestern are all favored at home by at least a touchdown. Betting on the Fighting Illini, Spartans and Wildcats spreads, moneylines or point totals in all those games don’t give any payoffs.
Unless a bettor believes in Indiana or Purdue to pull off the upsets this week, the lines aren’t attractive. If the Boilermakers or Hoosiers defy those odds, however, those bets could pay off nicely.
