The looming possibility of academic ineligibility of four players from the Notre Dame football team has forced Las Vegas sports books to adjust the Fighting Irish’s odds to win the college football championship.
The players – identified as wide receiver DaVaris Daniels, defensive lineman Ishaq Williams, linebacker Kendall Moore, and defensive end KeiVarae Russell – are being investigated for alleged involvement on cheating on tests and papers. The university said in a statement that ‘it found evidence students submitted papers and homework that had been written for them.’
The players are being held out of practice and games, although no players have been suspended or kicked off of the team, according to the school’s Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick.
The controversy has forced Las Vegas sports books to adjust the team’s title odds. The Las Vegas Hilton SuperBook bumped the Fighting Irish’s odds to 100/1 from 75/1 in the wake of news about the investigation.
Other bets involving the Fighting Irish have been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation, including its 7.5 season win total and most of the SuperBook’s Games of the Year bets involving the team.
The investigation came at a bad time for the team, whose season opener is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 30 at home vs. Rice. It’s a particularly big blow for the team’s passing offense having Daniels on the sidelines for an indefinite period of time. The wide receiver is widely seen as one of the team’s primary options in the passing game after catching 49 balls last season for 745 yards and seven touchdowns.
Russell also figured to have a prominent role in the team as a starting cornerback while Williams is considered one of the senior leaders of the team.
Unless the investigation is expedited and a conclusion comes before this weekend, it’s highly unlikely that all four players will be able to play in the team’s early season schedule.
