Notre Dame vs Rice Prediction: Will Notre Dame Cover -44.5?
Backdoor Cover’s model projects Notre Dame -21.65 for Rice at Notre Dame, 22.9 points off the market’s Notre Dame -44.5, and gives Notre Dame a 98% win probability.
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What this tells us
My model is less bullish on Notre Dame than the market. It projects a decisive victory but falls well short of the margin the market is pricing in. That divergence between two reads of the same game is what my system is built to flag.
The model's side at the current line. It isn't a bet. I only bet a small share of the model's picks.
Weather at kickoff
No significant weather expected.
How the number is built
The model rates every FBS team on efficiency, adjusted for opponent, and refits every week. It predicts a score, which becomes a spread and a total. Backdoor Cover Picks are the few games I bet.
My track record starts with the 2026 season. Picks are posted before kickoff and graded once the game finishes.
Common questions
Who does the model project to win Notre Dame vs Rice?
Backdoor Cover’s model projects Notre Dame to win, with a 98% win probability.
What is the model’s predicted spread for Rice at Notre Dame?
The model projects Notre Dame -21.65 and the market has Notre Dame -44.5, a gap of 22.9 points.
What side does the model favor against the spread?
Rice +44.5, at the current number. Backdoor Cover Picks may still pass on this game.
How the model is doing. 113–101–1 against the spread (52.8%), 35–23 on totals (60.3%) and 166–49 straight up (77.2%) on every game this season.
Backdoor Cover Picks
Is Rice at Notre Dame one of my picks? Subscribers see whether I’m betting it, and if so the side, the line and a recommended unit size.
My track record is on the Track Record page.
Season predictions: Rice and Notre Dame.
Published Sep 8, 2026. Numbers refreshed Sep 11, 2026.