The No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-0) are off to a hot start and will try to remain undefeated when they clash with the No. 3 Michigan State Spartans (5-1) at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. The games Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 138 points with Michigan State opening as a 6-point favorite. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 30, 2017, and it can be seen on ESPN.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Michigan State Spartans ATS Preview
In the Fighting Irishs last contest, they barely escaped the No. 6 Wichita State Shockers, 67-66. Bonzie Colson was the games leading scorer with 25 points on 9-for-17 shooting. Notre Dame played a nearly perfect game. They had a free throw rate of 0.255 (below their season average of 0.295) and a turnover percentage of 13.3 (worse than their season average of 10.9). For those same stats, Wichita State was 0.068 and 14.0, respectively.
The Spartans will look to keep it rolling after blowing out the No. 9 North Carolina Tar Heels in their last outing, 63-45. Michigan State was lifted by Joshua Langford, who was the games high scorer with 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting. The Spartans held the Tar Heels to an effective field goal percentage of 0.254 (below their season average of 0.554) and an offensive rebounding percentage of 28.3 (below their season average of 35.6).
Michigan State could have difficulty getting to the charity stripe in this contest. Since last season, the Spartans rank 257th in the nation with a free throw attempt (FTA) rate of 0.226, while Notre Dame ranks 19th in FTA rate allowed (0.186). Also, the sharp-shooting offense of the Fighting Irish ranks 33rd in effective field goal percentage (0.545), while the Spartans have been 14th-best in the nation at effective field goal percentage allowed (0.456).
Games featuring these teams tend to go under the O/U total. Notre Dame games have finished under 100.0 percent of the time, while Michigan State games have gone under 75.0 percent of the time. The Fighting Irish hold the sizable advantage straight up (SU) (5-0 vs. 5-1), but the Spartans have the better against the spread (ATS) record (4-2 vs. 3-0).
Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Michigan State Spartans ATS Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Notre Dame, ATS Winner – Notre Dame, O/U – Over
Betting Notes (2016-Present):
- The Spartans average 17.1 assists per game, which ranks 12th in the NCAA. The Fighting Irish rank 130th in assists allowed per game (12.8).
- Notre Dame ranks 55th in steals per game (7.2) while Michigan State ranks 286th (4.5).
- The Spartans average 5.0 blocks per game, which ranks 24th in the NCAA. The Fighting Irish rank 199th in blocks allowed per game (3.9).
- Michigan State ranks 97th in rebounds per game (37.3) while Notre Dame ranks 259th (34.0).
