Indiana vs. Notre Dame Pick
Can No. 18 Notre Dame pick up a big win over in-state rival Indiana when the two collide today at 2:30PM ET in the Crossroads Classic?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Notre Dame is the slight favorite in this game, as the Fighting Irish are getting odds of -5.5 points against Indiana. The over/under total for the game has been set at 142 points. Today’s games takes place from Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana and will air live on FOX.
Indiana hasn’t had a great start to the season, opening at 5-5 following a 71-62 loss at Louisville last weekend. The Hoosiers are just 3-7 against the spread as well, failing to cover in three of their last four games. Indiana is scoring 74.2 points per game this season while allowing 73.6 per game. Juwan Morgan has been leading Indiana with 14.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while De’Ron Davis is adding 11.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest.
Notre Dame is coming off a 92-68 win over Delaware to improve to 8-2 on the season. The Fighting Irish are just 2-2 in their last four, losing to Michigan State and Ball State. When it comes to betting, the Irish are 4-3 against the spread. Notre Dame is averaging 80.8 points per game on offense this season while allowing 65.2 on defense. Bonzie Colson is leading Notre Dame with 19.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per game while Matt Farrell is adding 16.5 points and 5.2 assists per contest.
Indiana has won three straight meetings with Notre Dame, and the Hoosiers are 5-4 against the spread in the last nine in this series. However, Indiana isn’t the same team it has been in the past. The Hoosiers are still transitioning under a new coach and haven’t found their defensive stride. The Irish have played pretty well this year outside of the loss to Ball State. I think ND will be eager to get control of this rivalry and beat up on a lesser Indiana team. The public betting is slightly with the Irish, but I think they win comfortably.
CBB DAILY PREDICTION: NOTRE DAME -5.5