2014 Record: 8-5

2015 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 9.0

2015 Season Win Total Prediction: 'Push'

A 7-1 start to the 2014 season meant the Irish had gone 28-6 under Brian Kelly since the start of the 2012 season. But then the train came off the tracks with the Irish losing four straight games to close the regular season. The Irish salvaged some pride with a bowl win over LSU. But the season evoked a lot of mixed emotions for Irish backers, with them falling short of their 7.5 season win total mark.

But coach Brian Kelly welcomes back 17 starters from last year's squad, and the Irish will be a Top 10 team at the start of the 2015 season. If the defense improves from last year's mid-70s rankings then the Irish have a chance at making the college playoff.

Notre Dame starts the season with three of four games in South Bend, and five of their first seven games are on their home turf. However, that means a back-loaded road slate, with four of their final five games away from home. That includes tricky, physical games in unforgiving places like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston and Palo Alto.

I think this is one of Brian Kelly's best teams to date. However, it takes a lot of luck to navigate a schedule as fierce as the Irish's. There simply aren't enough gimme games here, and I think a rugged final five weeks will wear them down. I think the Irish will lose to USC on Oct. 17. I also think they'll get tripped up in two other games this season. I don't think there is any value on betting 'under' because I don't see four losses. So gun-to-my-head I would play them 'over'. But, frankly, my analysis has nine wins and a 'push'.

2015 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule

DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET) Location

Sat, Sep 5th, 2015 Texas 07:30 PM Notre Dame Stadium

Sat, Sep 12th, 2015 at Virginia 03:30 PM David A. Harrison III Field at

Sat, Sep 19th, 2015 GeorgiaTech 03:30 PM Notre Dame Stadium

Sat, Sep 26th, 2015 Massachusetts 03:30 PM Notre Dame Stadium

Sat, Oct 3rd, 2015 at Clemson TBA Clemson Memorial Stadium

Sat, Oct 10th, 2015 Navy 03:30 PM Notre Dame Stadium

Sat, Oct 17th, 2015 USC 07:30 PM Notre Dame Stadium

Sat, Oct 31st, 2015 at Temple TBA Lincoln Financial Field

Sat, Nov 7th, 2015 at Pittsburgh TBA Heinz Field

Sat, Nov 14th, 2015 WakeForest 03:30 PM Notre Dame Stadium

Sat, Nov 21st, 2015 at Boston College07:30 PM Fenway Park - Boston, MA

Sat, Nov 28th, 2015 at Stanford TBA Stanford Stadium

All Times EST

*Season Win Total Odds from 5Dimes Sportsbook.

Robert Ferringo has been the top football handicapper in the country the past two years, earning nearly $13,000 in total football profit with back-to-back winning seasons. Robert has tallied over $20,000 in football profit the last four years and in 2013 he hit 62.1 percent for the entire NFL season (95-58). Robert has produced an incredible 12 of 16 winning football months. Going back further he has churned out 35 of 51 winning football months, four of five winning overall seasons, seven of eight winning preseasons and he is at nearly 60 percent winners over his last 600 football picks. Also, Robert's proprietary KING College Football Betting System has posted two of three winning seasons and is 101-71 over the last two years (58.7 percent).

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