Last Updated on March 18, 2010 8:06 am by drew
Notre Dame-ODU Pick
The Big East gets its first chance to show its superiority on Thursday when Notre Dame faces Old Dominion in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament at 12:25PM ET.
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These two teams will battle it out in the South Region with their game taking place at New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. Notre Dame enters as the No. 6 seed with ODU the No. 11 seed.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL have made Notre Dame 2-point favorites over Old Dominion on Thursday afternoon. The over/under has been set at 122.
Notre Dame is 23-11 overall this season and the Irish finished 10-8 in the Big East. ND is making its 30th NCAA Tournament appearance and third in the last four seasons. The Irish average 76 points per-game on offense, which ranks 38th nationally. On defense, ND gives up 68.9 points per-game, which lands them 165th in the country. Wooden Award nominee, Luke Harangody leads the Irish with 22.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per-game. Harangody has been hobbled by an injury lately, but is still contributing for the Irish.
Old Dominion is 26-8 on the season and 15-3 in the Colonial Athletic Conference. The Monarchs are making their 10th NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2007. ODU posts just 67.7 points per-game on offense, which ranks 181st nationally, but the Monarchs allow just 56.7 points per-game, which ranks fifth in the country. Gerald Lee leads ODU with 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per-game. Lee shoots 54 percent from the field and 76 percent from the free throw line.
This pick will come down to the health of Harangody and how much he can contribute to the Irish. The Monarchs are a physical team that don’t allow a lot of points, so ND having its top gun injured certainly doesn’t help their cause. Because the game will likely be low scoring, we like the Monarchs to cover and make it difficult for the Irish to move on. The over/under seems to low in this one as well.
Our NCAA Tournament Free Pick for this matchup is: OLD DOMINION +2 and OVER 122
March Madness Betting Trends
Old Dominion is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Old Dominion’s last 8 games
Notre Dame is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Notre Dame’s last 5 games
Notre Dame is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
March Madness Injury Report
NOTRE DAME
[G] 12/06/2009 – Scott Martin out for season ( Knee )
OLD DOMINION
No Injuries Reported
March Madness Game Odds
Notre Dame Fighting Irish -2 Over 122
Old Dominion Monarchs +2 Under 122
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Posted: 3/18/10 8:06AM ET