UGA is listed as a heavy favorite to beat Notre Dame this season.

The Bulldogs are listed as a 10.5-point favorite over Notre Dame in a non-conference game which will be played on Sept. 21 in Athens, Ga. That spread was determined by Collin Wilson, the College Football Predictive Analyst for the Action Network HQ and The Athletic, via Brett McMurphy.

The double-digit spread is a surprise, considering that Notre Dame is ranked in the top five in many early preseason rankings. In ESPN’s “Way-Too-Early” Top 25, Notre Dame is rated No. 6, preceded by UGA at No. 4. As you know, Notre Dame made the playoff this past season, losing to Clemson in the semifinals.

The upcoming meeting will only be the third time that UGA and Notre Dame have played each other in football. The first matchup was the 1980 national championship game, won by the Herschel Walker-led Bulldogs. The two schools agreed to a home-and-series a few years ago.

UGA won the first matchup in 2017 by the score of 20-19 on the road at Notre Dame — helped in part by a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch by Terry Godwin (see picture above).

This season’s game will be Notre Dame’s first appearance in Athens, and the outcome of the game could ultimately decide a spot in the College Football Playoff.

It should easily be UGA’s hardest ticket to get for the regular season, with prices starting off at $430 for the upper level.