College Basketball Picks: Notre Dame vs. Gonzaga
Written by Matthew Regaw
Wed, 30 Nov 2011
Category sportsbook
Feedback Rating - no votes
Undefeated and No. 19th ranked Gonzaga will put its perfect record on the line on Wednesday night when they tip off against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Gonzaga is Flying High
Gonzaga (4-0), off to its best start since opening 7-0 in 2008-09, shot a season-high 52.6 percent from the floor during Saturday's 78-58 victory over winless Western Michigan. Four players scored in double figures – including centers Robert Sacre and Sam Dower, who each scored 15 points.
While the Bulldogs have outscored opponents by an average of 13.8 points during their run, those over-matched foes have a combined 7-14 record. They seem all but certain to face a considerably stiffer test during their upcoming slate of games, starting with the Irish (5-2) in this one.
Gonzaga, which fell 83-79 at then-No. 23 Notre Dame on Dec. 11 in its only meeting in this series, visits Illinois on Saturday before facing Michigan State on Dec. 10.
After suffering back-to-back defeats to then-No. 21 Missouri and Georgia last week, the Irish regrouped Sunday with an 84-59 win over Bryant – their first game since losing co-captain Tim Abromaitis for the season.
Abromaitis, averaging 14.0 points, suffered a torn ACL in his right knee in practice two days earlier.
With Abromaitis sidelined and fellow forward Jack Cooley under the weather, Notre Dame's five-guard starting lineup went a combined 8 of 15 (53.3 percent) from 3-point range. Jerian Grant recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Atkins had 18 points and a career-best nine assists.
While Notre Dame, averaging just 10.4 turnovers, has taken pretty good care of the basketball, it will likely have its hands full against Gonzaga. The Bulldogs have forced 45 miscues over their last two games.
Notre Dame had won seven straight versus ranked opponents before dropping its most recent two. The Irish have taken three of four road matchups versus Top 25 teams.
Gonzaga has won 27 of 30 at home – including six in a row by 18.2 points per game. That makes sense as the Zags are 10 point favorites against Notre Dame in this game.
The college basketball trends show that this is a tough spot for the Fighting Irish. The Fighting Irish are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record and Bulldogs are 15-6-2 ATS in their last 23 home games against a team with a losing road record. The Zags keep this close early, but pull away for the big win.
College Basketball Free Picks: Gonzaga -10