The Notre Dame basketball program was gaining national respect although it was still not anywhere near a national power type program. In 2004-05 the Fighting Irish finished 17-12 straight up and 12-12-1 against the spread and lost in the first round of the NIT tournament.
Notre Dame proved to be a streaky team against the sportsbooks in 2004-05 after an opening loss against the spread as they covered their next two lined games, then dropped their next three against the spread. They next covered two straight versus the number before dropping their next two against the sportsbooks. That was followed by a nine game unbeaten streak against the sportsbooks before a violent sports betting market correction in which they dropped their final six games against the oddsmakers to conclude the season in most schizophrenic fashion.
Difficult read
Notre Dame would prove to be a difficult read for gamblers as they were something of a “name brand” school although without “name brand” results. Playing in the Big East was always a tough chore that would become even more difficult with a new and expanded league that featured some of the best schools from Conference USA including Louisville, Cincinnati, and Marquette.
Decent value at the start
Notre Dame began the 2005-06 season with an unlined home win over Lafayette. They next scored a 69-50 home win over Hofstra as 7.5-point home chalks. After back-to-back SU&ATS losses to North Carolina State and Michigan, the Irish got back on track with back-to-back wins and covers at Alabama and then at home against Florida International. After an unlined win at IUPI-Ft. Wayne, the Irish got another win and cover at home against Niagara to improve to 4-2 against the spread and looking like a decent value at the start of the season.
Tough stretch
Notre Dame next went through a three game homestand in which they were undefeated straight up but covered just once as they were overlays that were losing value. After a Big East opening loss/cover at Pittsburgh, The Irish lost their next two games both SU&ATS at DePaul and at home against Syracuse to complete a tough stretch in which they went 2-4 against the sportsbooks.
Big East bargains
Notre Dame got back on track with a 92-77 home win over Providence as 7-point chalks. That was followed by a 65-67 loss/cover as 4-point dogs at Marquette and then a tough 82-85 overtime-home loss to Georgetown as 1-point chalks.
Notre Dame continued to prove to be Big East bargains as they earned three consecutive loss/covers starting with a 70-72 defeat as 5-point home dogs against Villanova. West Virginia got them next 71-70 as 8-point chalks and then Louisville escaped with an 89-86-overtime-home win as 6-point chalks. The Irish finally got a straight up win over Rutgers 90-63 as 6.5-point chalks.
After a 62-55 win over South Florida as rare 12.5-point home overlays the Irish scored an upset win/cover at Seton Hall before getting yet another loss/cover at Connecticut to complete a strong 8-2 stretch against the sportsbooks.
Losing value
Notre Dame began losing value down the stretch starting with a 72-80 home loss to Marquette as 4.5-point chalks. After a win/cover at Providence the Irish beat DePaul 66-61 as 7.5-point home overlays.
Post Season split
Notre Dame dropped their Big East tourney opener to Georgetown 63-67 as 3.5-point dogs. They received an invite to the NIT and beat Vanderbilt in the first round 79-69 as 5-point chalks before being bounced at Michigan 84-87 in overtime as 3-point dogs to finish with a pre season split at 1-1-1 against the spread.