Notre Dame vs Connecticut gam (Irish News) is one of the USA’s great rivalries. Played each year at the end of September, the game is a key date on the college football calendar. The atmosphere at the game is incredible, with the schools’ colourful student sections regularly throwing down some raucous chants. While you might not always want to tune in to such a high-intensity game, it’s definitely worth it.
If you’re wondering what the betting line is for this year’s edition of the game, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we’ll run down the odds on each side, as well as the opening week odds for other upcoming sports events.
Notre Dame
Notre Dame was one of the original members of the elite ‘Group of Five’ which began competition in the 1980s. They’ve always had a highly successful football team, with 11 national titles to their name. This year they enter the season as 17/2 favourites to retain the title.
Last year, they were a trendy selection to retain the crown with some smart wagers paying off, and the same is expected to happen again this year. The 16-game season kicks off against Navy in Dublin on August 24th, and the Irish finished their season against arch-rival University of Michigan.
Connecticut
The Huskies joined the Group of Five in 1985 and have steadily grown in popularity since then. Since then they’ve won three national championships, with their most recent triumph coming only in 2016. They’re a trendy pick to win the CFB playoff this year, as they look to make it to the final four for the third year in a row.
Last year’s playoff game was one of the best of the decade. With two overtime periods, it went into sudden death overtime before a touchdown from Stanford’s K.J. Costello gave him the win. While they haven’t won the national championship since 2009, Connecticut are well worth a punt on this year.
Opening Odds
You might be wondering what the opening odds are for the upcoming football season. Here’s a look at the current odds for the 2019 season. (All odds via Bet365)
Australian Football — AFL
The Australian Football League (AFL) is one of the world’s great sporting organisations, with each season kicking off on the weekend of April 4th. The odds on the favorites to win the AFL championship are as follows:
- Richmond (3/1)
- Melbourne (4/1)
- Collingwood (7/1)
- St Kilda (8/1)
- Hawthorn (13/2)
It’s a battle of the bookmakers between Richmond and Melbourne. The last time these two met in the AFL grand final was in 2014, when Richmond won their first ever championship. Can they do it again this year?
Baseball — MLB
Major League Baseball (MLB) kicked off the new season on the weekend of March 20th and will continue until October. The odds on the contenders to win the World Series are as follows:
- Houston (4/1)
- Los Angeles (5/1)
- New York (7/1)
- Boston (13/2)
- St Louis (13/2)
- Milwaukee (13/2)
It’s a duel between the Astros and the Dodgers, with each looking to become the first team to repeat as World Series champions since the Wild Cards era of the 1990s. While the world awaits the conclusion of the current pandemic, baseball is back and ready to play.
Basketball — NBA
The NBA (National Basketball Association) season began on October 18th and will continue until June. The league’s playoff teams are as follows:
- Tampa Bay (3/1)
- Charlotte (4/1)
- Cleveland (6/1)
- Orlando (7/1)
- Miami (7/1)
- Philadelphia (8/1)
- Boston (10/1)
- Washington (12/1)
- New York (12/1)
Once again, it’s a battle of the bookmakers between the Atlantic and the Midwest. The Boston Celtics, led by star forward Gordon Hayward, look to make it three championship appearances in a row. While they haven’t won the championship since 2016, they’re certainly one of the league’s most popular teams and very good value at these odds.
Cricket — Indian Premier League
Cricket in India is one of the most popular sports. The Indian Premier League (IPL) was formed in 2008 and features six teams from around the country. This year’s tournament begins on April 6th and will continue until May 23rd. The odds of the favorites to win the IPL are as follows:
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (4/1)
- Royal Challengers Bangalore (4/1)
- Rajasthan Royals (7/1)
- Kolkata Knight Riders (8/1)
- Chennai Super Kings (14/1)
- New Delhi Daredevils (14/1)
Once more, it’s a battle of the bookmakers between the South and the North. The Chennai Super Kings have won the last three championships and are a popular choice this year, while the Sunrisers Hyderabad haven’t won a title since 2016.
Tennis — ATP
The ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Masters 1000 tournament begins on October 31st and continues until November 18th, with the final taking place on November 22nd. The tournament is considered one of the best of the year and features some of the world’s best players, with stars such as Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal all set to appear. The odds on these three to reach the final are as follows:
- Nadal (10/1)
- Djokovic (15/1)
- Federer (25/1)
- Montreal Canadiens (25/1)
- New York Yankees (25/1)
We’ve reached the stage of the season where some traditionalists might be wishing for an autumnal weekend just to stay away from the crowds and the sunshine. Some of the world’s greatest sporting events are on the calendar in the coming weeks, so be sure to keep an eye out for tickets.