Best #1 Miami vs. #11 Notre Dame Anytime TD Scorer Predictions for November 7

This is one of the weekend’s premier games, and it could have major implications for the College Football Playoff rankings. Two teams with national championship aspirations are set to renew a rivalry that has existed for decades, as #1 Miami and #11 Notre Dame do battle at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

#1 Miami continues to roll as it remains undefeated, with QB Darian Mensah looking like a Heisman Trophy candidate. Now, without the injured WR Malachi Toney, we’ll see if Mensah and the Canes can keep up. Notre Dame has to prove it belongs in the playoff conversation; with its only loss to its sole ranked opponent, this could be its chance to argue for a top-12 finish at the end of the regular season.

Both teams have enough offensive talent for a high-scoring matchup, as seen by a 54.5 over/under on PrizePicks. Who will shine on the big stage and find the end zone in this huge matchup?

Below, we'll highlight our best Miami vs. Notre Dame Anytime TD scorer predictions, including three standout players.

Make your Miami vs. Notre Dame Anytime TD scorer picks on PrizePicks now.

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#1 Miami vs. #11 Notre Dame Anytime TD Scorer Picks – Saturday, November 7

This should feel like a playoff game for Notre Dame because it could determine whether it makes the College Football Playoff. 

As an independent program, Notre Dame can choose its opponents, and some of that competition includes Rice and Nebraska. The Irish get the style points for the convincing wins, but those games don’t prepare them for a challenging opponent. 

That was the case when the Fighting Irish faced then-#8 BYU; it was a closely contested game, but without a prior true test, Notre Dame looked outmatched and lost.

Now the Fighting Irish are in a huge hole. If they don’t beat Miami, they'll be 0-2 against ranked opponents, with no other top-25 team on their remaining schedule.

That’s what happened to them last year; they had a weak schedule and lost to their toughest opponent, Miami, and as a result, the College Football Playoff Committee voted them out and instead put Miami in.

If the Irish beat Miami and win out, they should make the playoffs. If they lose, it will be difficult to climb back up the rankings. According to PrizePicks, Notre Dame has a 1.17x payout to qualify for the CFP.

Of course Miami wants to win this game, but a loss wouldn’t hurt it as much. This doesn’t count against its ACC record, so it would still control its path to the conference championship. A win in South Bend would solidify this team as a championship favorite, though.

The Hurricanes have dominated most of their games. Five of their wins have come by three possessions, and the offense has been electric, scoring 40 or more points in six games. 

Unlike Notre Dame, Miami has been tested, and it succeeded. North Carolina kept last week's matchup close and only trailed by more than one possession for 55 seconds in the entire game. The Canes were also challenged by in-state rival Florida State, which took them to two overtime periods, but they showed resilience and won. 

The level of competition will be much better during the playoffs, but their performance this season and last year’s playoff shows this team can dial it up when needed.

Miami will enter this game without its star player, as WR Malachi Toney will miss at least the rest of the regular season with an ankle injury. You could argue he is the most important player on this team and ranks second in the country in receiving yards (1,027) and fourth in yards after the catch (497).

Mensah has been one of the country’s best quarterbacks, leading the nation in completion rate (80.7%), ranking second in passing TDs (25) and fourth in passing yards (2,429). We could find out whether Mensah is truly one of college football's top quarterbacks or whether Toney elevated his game.

With that in mind, who for each side stands out as an appealing candidate to reach the end zone?

Anytime TDs on PrizePicks include rushing, receiving, recoveries, and returns. PrizePicks often list Anytime TDs as Demons and Goblins, meaning users can only select "More." For standard projections, users can select “More” or “Less.”

Demons are tougher to win but are the only way to get higher payouts. Meanwhile, Goblins are lower than a standard projection, but they are easier to win, so there’s a lower payout.

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Miami RB Mark Fletcher Jr. vs. Notre Dame: 0.5 Anytime TDs (Demon)

Mark Fletcher Jr. could set the tone for Miami’s offense if it struggles to pass the ball without Toney.

He hasn’t been the explosive runner he was last season because of a lingering knee issue. That has lowered his yards per carry from 5.5 last year to 4.9, but Miami still trusts him with the ball, and he leads the team with 94 carries.

Miami’s explosive air attack gets the headlines, but its offense can also be effective in the trenches. It ranks in the 81st percentile for rushing yards per game (202.5) and in the 92nd percentile for yards per carry (5.4).

Notre Dame will be a tough opponent, ranking in the 94th percentile for rushing yards allowed per game (85.3). 

Miami has faced two opponents who rank higher in rushing defense than Notre Dame. Miami rushed for 158 yards and 1 rushing TD against Wake Forest, which is ranked in the 95th percentile in rushing yards allowed per game. The Hurricanes rushed for 119 yards and 3 rushing TDs against Pittsburgh, which is ranked in the 99th percentile in rushing yards allowed per game. Fletcher scored in both games.

Miami uses Fletcher as its go-to guy in the red zone to finish drives. Of his 9 rushing TDs, 8 came from within 10 yards. Notre Dame has defensive injuries that could show on goal line stands.

Add Mark Fletcher Jr. + Miami to win to your PrizePicks lineup now.

Notre Dame RB Nolan James Jr. vs. Miami: 0.5 Anytime TDs (Goblin)

It was Notre Dame RB Aneyas Williams who started the season as the lead back, but inconsistency and mistakes pushed him out of that spot. RB Jonez Walton is also involved, but Nolan James Jr. has made the biggest impact, taking over as the primary back and leading the team in carries (90).

He’s been one of the team’s most impactful running backs, finding the end zone in each game this season. He’s been especially hot recently, with 5 TDs in his last three games.

This matchup will be James’ toughest test of the season, as Miami allows the fewest rushing yards per game in the FBS (60.7) and the third-fewest rushing TDs (4). 

We can still be confident in James’ chances to score a touchdown because Notre Dame also uses him as a pass-catcher. Of James’ 13 receptions this season, 3 have resulted in touchdowns. James has two red-zone catches, and he scored on each.

His ability to contribute on the ground and through the air could make him a major part of this matchup.

Add Nolan James Jr. + Notre Dame to cover the spread to your PrizePicks lineup now.

Miami TE Elijah Lofton vs. Notre Dame: 0.5 Anytime TDs (Demon)

Replacing Toney is impossible, especially since he’s one of the country’s top wide receivers. Toney was Mensah’s favorite target, ranking second in the country with 73 receptions and 13 receiving TDs.

It’s tough to replace Toney, especially since no other Miami receiver has 30 catches. However, you have to wonder whether Notre Dame’s easier schedule could catch up against a high-caliber team like Miami.

The Fighting Irish rank only in the 60th percentile in strength of schedule, yet they still struggle against the pass, ranking in the 43rd percentile in passing success rate allowed (41.6%).

The biggest mismatch could be Notre Dame trying to cover Elijah Lofton. The Fighting Irish will be missing three defensive starters due to injury: LB Drayk Bowen, CB DJ McKinney, and S Brauntae Johnson.

For Lofton, this helps because he can run downfield, and at 6 foot 3, 242 pounds, he has the size advantage over most defensive backs. He’s also one of the toughest tight ends to take down in the country, with 7.9 yards after the catch per reception and 10 missed tackles forced, each the fourth-most among tight ends in the FBS.

Don’t be surprised if Mensah looks for Lofton in critical situations, especially in the red zone.

Add Elijah Lofton + Miami to win to your PrizePicks lineup now.

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The stage is set for the Catholics vs. Convicts rivalry in South Bend, with Notre Dame hosting Miami. The Fighting Irish could be on the brink of elimination from playoff contention, but a win over the #1 team in the country could stamp their ticket for a chance at the National Championship.

Don’t wait until kickoff — make your Miami vs. Notre Dame picks on PrizePicks now. Just pick your players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in on your predictions if you’re right. With Team Picks, you can make predictions on game winners, spreads, and over/unders — now available in 36 states!

Keep it here with the Playbook for continued CFB picks, predictions, futures, and more as we continue the 2026 season.