Thor Nystrom provides his best bets for each 2022 Bowl Game on Thursday and Friday, December 29 and 30. And here’s a closer look at the 2022 Gator Bowl.
2022 regular season: 82-66-3 ATS (55.4%)
2022 bowls (through Dec. 28): 17-7-1 ATS (70.8%)
2022 combined: 99-73-4 ATS (57.6%)
2014-2021: 706-620-17 ATS (53.2%)
Jacksonville, FL | Friday, December 30 | 2:30 PM
Notre Dame (-2) vs. South Carolina | Total: 51.5
Notre Dame
QB Drew Pyne (Transfer portal)
QB Tyler Buchner (Injury)
WR Avery Davis (Injury)
WR Tobias Merriweather (Injury)
WR Joe Wilkins Jr. (Transfer portal)
TE Michael Mayer (Opt-out)
TE Kevin Bauman (Injury)
TE Eli Raridon (Injury)
TE Cane Berrong (Transfer portal)
DT Jacob Lacey (Transfer portal)
EDGE Isaiah Foskey (Opt-out)
EDGE Ositadinma Ekwonu (Transfer portal)
DB Jayden Bellamy (Transfer portal)
CB Cam Hart (Injury)
TE Mayer and EDGE Foskey are huge, huge losses. Mayer was a matchup nightmare who will go in Round 1 in the spring. Despite consistently drawing double- or even triple-teams this fall, Mayer posted a 67-809-9 receiving line as the only Irish receiving weapon that scared opponents.
Foskey was easily the team's best pass-rusher with 12 sacks. It was his second-straight season with 11-or-more. DT Lacey had two sacks and five tackles against Cal, but he announced his intention to transfer in October – he ultimately signed with Oklahoma.
QB Pyne's defection – for Arizona State – seemingly left the Irish with an uncertain quarterback situation. But, lo and behold, Week 1 starter QB Tyler Buchner is going to start this game, per HC Marcus Freeman,
Buchner was thought to have suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in September. But Buchner returned to practice earlier this month and is ready to go. QB3 Steve Angeli will back him up.
WR Davis, a projected starter, was lost for the season before it began with a knee injury. With a concussion, WR Merriweather, who played 68 snaps in the fall, is questionable. TEs Raridon and Bauman were both lost for the season with injuries early-on, and TE Berrong has transferred. All three were backups but could have seen more time in the bowl game with Mayer's defection.
CB Hart was one of the Irish's two starting outside corners. He has been ruled out for this game with a shoulder injury suffered against Boston College. Though he won't play in the bowl, Hart said he will return to school next fall.
The Irish have a strong starter on the other side in CB Benjamin Morrison, and also a solid starting nickel CB in TaRiq Bracy. Technically, the top outside-corner backup is Jaden Mickey. Mickey started for Hart against USC and got lit up. Per PFF, Mickey has allowed receptions on 12 of 15 targets this season for an average of 20.3 YPR.