Notre Dame’s locker room is grappling with a flu outbreak, which has notably impacted some key players while primarily affecting backups and special teams members, as reported by On3.
Recent updates suggest that the flu’s severity has diminished, though not all athletes have returned to full health.
On Thursday evening, the Fighting Irish will compete against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl, marking a historic moment for head coaches James Franklin and Marcus Freeman as they lead their teams in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
As the No. 7 seed, Notre Dame enters the matchup as a slight one-point favorite over the sixth-seeded Nittany Lions. The team is just one victory away from the national championship game after impressive wins against No. 2 seed Georgia and No. 10 seed Indiana in earlier rounds.
Quarterback Riley Leonard stands out with the second-best odds for the CFP MVP at +475, meaning a $10 bet could win a total of $57.50. Meanwhile, running back Jeremiyah Love has the seventh-best odds at +2000, offering a potential total of $210 on a $10 bet.
The lingering effects of the flu outbreak could play a pivotal role in Notre Dame’s quest for the championship.
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