NCAA Basketball Free Pick – Saturday, February 19, 2011
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish (21-4) vs West Virginia Mountaineers (16-9)
Last meeting: West Virginia eliminated Notre Dame from the Big East tournament last march with a 53-51 victory.
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It is getting pretty late in the season and the Irish are still hanging around near the top of the national rankings. This team has a very good starting lineup and plays a style where their depth,or lack thereof, is minimalized. Ben Hansbrough is a player of the year candidate in my opinion. His numbers may not rival some of the more prolific players out there but given how tough the Big East is and how clutch he has been in their biggest games he should really be considered. ND has a very experienced teams which makes them dangerous on the road (just ask Pitt). They will not be intimidated by visiting Morgantown to play a Mountaineers team that is desperate for more wins to assure their post season placement. FYI the last time a home team didn’t win in this series was 2005 when Colin Falls Pittsnoggled WVU for ND.
I am genuinely caught between thinking that West Virginia is underperforming or just not all that good. They lost a lot from last year’s Cinderella team and they are decidedly in the middle of pack in the Big East this season, which is nothing to be ashamed of. Over the past month they have really struggled which has made earlier wins against teams like Purdue very mysterious. They need to turn it around quickly if they want to play in the tournament and a win over Notre Dame would help out tremendously. The question is who is going to step up. Last year they had star leadership but this year they have better balance. It looks like last year’s formula was better for Bob Huggins’ crew.
The odds makers have the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as a -4 point favorite.
Prediction: The more I see ND the more I like but I can’t say the same for WVU. ND should win a close contest. Another Big East battle.
Score: Notre Dame 66 – West Virginia 63
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish Betting Trends:
Notre Dame is 8-15 SU in its last 23 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Notre Dame’s last 12 games on the road
Notre Dame is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games when playing on the road against West Virginia
Notre Dame is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against West Virginia
West Virginia Mountaineers Betting Trends:
West Virginia is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of West Virginia’s last 8 games
West Virginia is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
West Virginia is 21-4 SU in its last 25 games at home
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