After two weeks to think about their opening defeat to Miami, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish return to the field tonight when they host the Texas A&M Aggies.
Two former Irish defensive coordinators will lead their teams into a game with potentially huge College Football Playoff implications, and I’ve got three Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame props I’m keeping an eye on in what should be a highly entertaining contest on Saturday, September 13.
For more college football picks, check out Douglas Farmer's Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame predictions!
Texas A&M vs Notre Dame props for Week 3
Craver o3.5 recs (-128)- Reed o34.5 rush yds (-114)
Love o80.5 rush yds (-114)
Prop bet #1: Mario Craver Over 3.5 receptions
Mario Craver is a playmaker who ranks Top 10 nationally in receiving yards and touchdowns, despite an average depth of target of 2.9 yards. He's caught 13 of his 16 targets, posting more than 18 yards per catch.
Craver has lined up in the slot on 52 of his 62 snaps, and the Texas A&M Aggies want to get the ball into his hands as much as possible. Getting him involved in the passing game early will help settle Marcel Reed into the game, playing in a hostile environment for the first time this season.
The downfield playmaking ability of both he and KC Concepcion on the outside will make the Notre Dame Fighting Irish hesitant to utilize a lot of press coverage, and Craver's speed means he can punish any linebackers who try to cover him over the middle.
I wouldn't be surprised if Craver hits the Over on receptions before halftime, but I'm putting two units on him to do it before the final horn. This is one of my favorite plays of the entire college football slate.
Prop bet #2: Marcel Reed Over 34.5 rushing yards
Notre Dame sacked Carson Beck just once in its opening game against Miami, and many questioned how passive Chris Ash was with his playcalling. That isn’t likely to change against Texas A&M, however, due to the scrambling ability of Reed.
Reed has already scrambled for 11 times in his first two games, picking up 77 yards in the process. His 105 total rushing yards lead the Aggies, and he’s rushed for 39+ yards in eight straight games dating back to last October.
He’s doing it to good defenses, as well.
He had 83 rushing yards last year against Florida, 62 against LSU, 46 against South Carolina, and 60 against Texas. He’s operating behind an improved offensive line, and facing a Notre Dame pass rush that looked underwhelming against the Canes.
Reed’s accuracy over the middle has been excellent so far, which makes spying him a bit tricky in a zone-coverage scheme. The Irish also have to be wary of the ground game, and the read option that the Aggies will utilize.
The Aggies have thrived on big plays downfield, and Notre Dame will have to focus on taking those away. That will open up some rushing lanes for Reed, and he’ll avoid sacks as he tops 40 yards on the ground yet again.
Prop bet #3: Jeremiyah Love Over 80.5 rushing yards
This prop keeps moving north, but it’s still not high enough for me to look elsewhere. That’s because the Aggies should see a heavy dose of Jeremiyah Love, which will be a big problem for them.
Texas A&M missed 19 tackles last year against Notre Dame, and those issues have carried into 2025. The Aggies had another 13 missed tackles against UTSA, and it’s leading to big plays for opponents.
The Aggies have allowed explosive runs on 10% of opponent carries, despite playing UTSA and Utah State. They’ve also allowed 1.63 line yards per carry, with a stuff rate that ranks them in the bottom 33% of college football.
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