Cincinnati at Notre Dame Week 5 College Football Matchup Cincinnati at Notre Dame Matchup - Week 5
Sat, Oct 2 2021 · Week 5 · 🏟 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN · Turf · 80,795 cap
Cincinnati✈ 199 miSame TZ
24 13
Final
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📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Cincinnati
27
Notre Dame
25
P&R Line Cincinnati -1.5
P&R Total O/U 52
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Cincinnati -2.5 · O/U 50.0
Matchup Prediction
Cincinnati has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Cincinnati entering this game.
Momentum Control
61.3%
Cincinnati wins
Lean
Game Control
58.3%
Cincinnati wins
Lean
Vegas Spread
Cincinnati -2.5
O/U 50.0
teamrankings
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → Cincinnati · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
🛋 Cincinnati Coming off BYE
Cincinnati 2021 Schedule
Cincinnati's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4Cincinnati vs Miami (OH)-22.5W49–1449.0W49–14OY
Sat 9/11Cincinnati vs Murray State-36.5W42–751.5W42–7UN
Sat 9/18Cincinnati at Indiana-4.0W38–2450.0W38–24OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/2Cincinnati at Notre Dame-2.5W24–1350.0W24–13UY
Fri 10/8Cincinnati vs Temple-30.0W52–352.5W52–3OY
Sat 10/16Cincinnati vs UCF-21.5W56–2156.0W56–21OY
Sat 10/23Cincinnati at Navy-28.5W27–2049.5W27–20UN
Sat 10/30Cincinnati at Tulane-27.5W31–1261.5W31–12UN
Sat 11/6Cincinnati vs Tulsa-22.5W28–2056.0W28–20UN
Fri 11/12Cincinnati at South Florida-24.5W45–2858.5W45–28ON
Sat 11/20Cincinnati vs SMU-9.5W48–1465.5W48–14UY
Fri 11/26Cincinnati at East Carolina-14.5W35–1356.5W35–13UY
Sat 12/4Cincinnati vs Houston-10.5W35–2052.5W35–20OY
Fri 12/31Cincinnati vs Alabama+13.0L6–2757.5L6–27UN
Notre Dame 2021 Schedule
Notre Dame's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sun 9/5Notre Dame at Florida State-7.0W41–3853.5W41–38ON
Sat 9/11Notre Dame vs Toledo-16.5W32–2955.0W32–29ON
Sat 9/18Notre Dame vs Purdue-7.5W27–1358.0W27–13UY
Sat 9/25Notre Dame vs Wisconsin+6.0W41–1343.5W41–13OY
Sat 10/2Notre Dame vs Cincinnati+2.5L13–2450.0L13–24UN
Sat 10/9Notre Dame at Virginia Tech+1.0W32–2946.5W32–29OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/23Notre Dame vs USC-8.0W31–1659.5W31–16UY
Sat 10/30Notre Dame vs North Carolina-3.5W44–3463.0W44–34OY
Sat 11/6Notre Dame vs Navy-21.0W34–647.5W34–6UY
Sat 11/13Notre Dame at Virginia-7.5W28–362.5W28–3UY
Sat 11/20Notre Dame vs Georgia Tech-18.0W55–057.5W55–0UY
Sat 11/27Notre Dame at Stanford-20.5W45–1453.0W45–14OY
Sat 1/1Notre Dame vs Oklahoma State+1.5L35–3745.5L35–37ON
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2021 season
Cincinnati PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ Cincinnati
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Cincinnati
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Cincinnati
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Cincinnati
+0.398
Notre Dame
+0.317
Cincinnati Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Cincinnati
+0.423
Notre Dame
+0.441
Notre Dame Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Cincinnati
0.203
Notre Dame
0.174
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Cincinnati Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Cincinnati
+7.458
Notre Dame
+7.198
Cincinnati Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Cincinnati
+0.873
Notre Dame
+0.816
Cincinnati Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Cincinnati
66.1
Notre Dame
71.5
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Cincinnati Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2021 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Notre Dame Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Cincinnati
-1.3
Notre Dame
28.3
Offense Rating
Cincinnati
13.7
Notre Dame
29.0
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Cincinnati
15.0
Notre Dame
0.0
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Cincinnati Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Cincinnati #8
2.00
Notre Dame #15
1.75
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Cincinnati #13
0.00
Notre Dame #22
1.00
Cincinnati +0.25
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 61.3% of games historically
Based on 4 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Cincinnati Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Cincinnati #1
73.3
Notre Dame #1
63.2
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Cincinnati #4
12.9
Notre Dame #15
18.8
Cincinnati +10.2
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.3% of games historically
Based on 4 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Cincinnati. Teams with this edge profile have covered 50.3% historically — essentially a coin flip against the spread.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Cincinnati
Luke Fickell #1
38–14 (73%) · Yr 5 at school
OC Mike Denbrock Yr 1 #1
DC Mike Tressel Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Notre Dame
Brian Kelly #1
84–38 (69%) · Yr 12 at school
OC Tommy Rees Yr 1 #1
DC Marcus Freeman Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: CSS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: GS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself