After a brutal start to the 2022 season Notre Dame is starting to get itself back on track. But it is now entering a brutal portion of its schedule starting with Saturday’s game at No. 16 Syracuse, where the Fighting Irish are in a pick ’em game after being a field goal underdog early in the week.

Notre Dame has won four of its past five games after an 0-2 start, but is now facing back-to-back ranked opponents with Syracuse and Clemson on the horizon over the next two games. A third ranked opponent (No. 10 USC) is also looming later in the season. It’s a make-or-break stretch for a Fighting Irish team that has been a disappointment this season having already lost to Marshall, Stanford and Ohio State. If they are unable to win a couple of those games against ranked opponents this season could quickly go from disappointment to disaster.

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The biggest problem for Notre Dame this season has been on offense where it is averaging just 26.6 points per game (86th in the country). That could be a problem against a Syracuse defense that has been one of the nation’s best this season, allowing just 15.1 points per game.

That defensive performance has helped drive the Orange to a 6-1 record that has made them one of the biggest surprises in the country. The six wins are already more than Syracuse managed in seven of the previous eight full seasons.

The Orange’s only loss came a week ago in a heartbreaking defeat against No. 5 Clemson in which they surrendered a 21-10 fourth-quarter lead. That loss put a significant dent in their quest for the ACC Atlantic title.

Even so, head coach Dino Babers has his team in position to have one of its best seasons in more than a decade, and a win over Notre Dame on Saturday would be a big signature win on the season. They have taken care of business in the games they were expected to win and impressed against the two ranked opponents (NC State and Clemson) they have played.

What is the spread for Syracuse vs. Notre Dame

All odds from BetMGM. Click here for live odds.

How to watch and stream Syracuse vs. Notre Dame

Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET Saturday in Syracuse. It will be televised nationally on ABC. You can also stream the game on the ESPN app with authentication.

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(Photo of Logan Diggs and Drew Pyne: Matt Cashore / USA Today)