Bodog Beat

No rivalry in college football had been more one-sided than Navy-Notre Dame, but the Midshipmen have given the Irish trouble the past two seasons, upsetting Notre Dame in 2007 to end a 43-game losing streak in the series and then nearly rallying in the final minutes to victory last year. The Irish are -12½ this time around on Bodog's college football odds.

A key offensive player for each side returns from injury this week. For Navy, QB Ricky Dobbs is back after missing most of the past two games. He is the team's second-leading rusher with 595 yards – the Middies don’t throw much — and leads the nation with 16 rushing touchdowns. For Notre Dame, which has covered the spread just twice this season, receiver Michael Floyd will play for the first time since breaking his collarbone in the Irish's third game. Floyd was the best receiver in the country for the first few games of the season, with 13 catches for 358 yards (27.5 yards per catch) and five touchdowns in just 10 quarters. However, Irish leading rusher Armando Allen is expected to sit out for a second week in a row. Robert Hughes, who had 131 yards rushing in last week's win over Washington State, would start again.

When looking at the college football odds on this one, whether Navy covers (or pulls the upset) depends on whether it can run the ball and keep the high-powered Notre Dame offense off the field. It's hard to prepare for that Navy triple-option offense and the Midshipmen, who have won the last four NCAA rushing titles, are No. 3 in the nation in rushing — averaging 279.8 yards per game. But the Irish defense has been very good against the run of late. It has allowed just 3.3 yards per carry in the past three games.

Do all of your college football betting at Bodog!