Notre Dame vs. Florida State - 3/4/20 College Basketball Pick, Odds, and Prediction
Photo by Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports
Florida State Seminoles (24-5) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (18-11)
College Basketball: Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 9:00 pm (Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center)
The Line: Notre Dame Fighting Irish +1 -- Over/Under: 145.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The Florida State Seminoles (24-5, 14-4 ACC) travel to South Bend, IN to face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (18-11, 9-9 ACC) in an Atlantic Coast Conference battle at the Joyce Center. The last time these two teams played, Florida State edged out Notre Dame 85-84 as 9-point home favorites.
Florida State is 7-3 straight up and 6-4 against the spread in their last 10 games. Florida State is 5-4 both straight up and against the spread in conference road games this season. Florida State averages 67.8 points per game and allows 65.2 points per game on the road this year, and they have shot 42.5% from the field, 31.8% from 3 and 68.4% from the free-throw line in those games.
Florida State had won 7 of 8 and 17 of their last 19 before losing to Clemson in dramatic fashion 69-79 as a 3 ½-point road favorite. Florida State is ranked 16th by KenPom, with the 35th ranked offense and 18th ranked defense in the country. Four players lead a balanced attack for Florida State, averaging between 9.4 and 12.9 points per game. Florida State is led by Sophomore guard Devin Vassell, who averages 12.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, and Senior guard Trent Forrest, who averages 11.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game for the Seminoles.
Notre Dame is 7-3 straight up and 6-4 against the spread in their last 10 games. Notre Dame has gone 5-3 both straight up and against the spread in conference home games this season. Notre Dame averages 79 points per game gives up 66.5 points per game in games played at home this year, and they shoot 44.2% from the field, 35.6% from 3 and 74% from the free-throw line in those games.
Notre Dame had won 7 of their last 9 games before losing to Wake Forest 73-84 as a 1-point road favorite on Saturday. Notre Dame is ranked 62nd by KenPom, with the 38th ranked offense and the 118th ranked defense in the nation. Notre Dame has four players who average double-digit scoring and is led by Senior forward John Mooney, who averages 16.8 points and 12.8 rebounds per game, and Sophomore guard Prentiss Hubb, who averages 11.8 points and 4.9 assists per game for the Fighting Irish.
In the last 10 games these teams have played each other, Florida State is 6-4 straight up, Notre Dame is 8-2 against the spread, and the over is 6-4. The over is also 7-3 in the last 10 games played by both Florida State and Notre Dame.
Notre Dame needs this win desperately if they want to have any chance of sneaking into the NCAA Tournament, but unfortunately for them, Florida State is coming off an excruciating 1-point loss to Clemson in their previous road game and will be angry. I’ll lay the small chalk with the Seminoles.
Erik’s Pick Florida State -1
AUTHOR: Erik Judd
Mitch's Take...
