Mike Brey has proven to be one of the top coaches in all of college basketball during his 18 years on the Notre Dame sideline. The Fighting Irish have made the Big Dance seven straight seasons but extending that streak may prove to be too much in 2017-18. Brey’s Fighting Irish have been a poor offshore bookmaker betting value as a bottom five Atlantic Coast Conference team this season. The Duke Blue Devils are a bona fide Final Four contender as usual and a surprisingly good betting value along the way.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. 4 Duke Blue Devils
Date and Time: Monday, January 29, 2018, 7 p.m. Eastern
Location: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, North Carolina
NCAA Betting Online Odds at SBG: Duke -14.5
Fighting Irish vs. Blue Devils TV Coverage: ESPN
Notre Dame
The slumping Fighting Irish of Notre Dame are in a horrific erosion of value with the offshore bookmaker. Mike Brey’s team is coming off its fifth consecutive loss, 80-75 at Virginia Tech as 3 point dogs. It was the fourth loss against the spread in their last five games for Notre Dame. The under has hit in four out of the last six games for the Irish. The overall record for Notre Dame is now 13-8 straight up and 7-9 against the spread. The Fighting Irish are 3-3 against the spread in away games with four out of those six away games going under the total. The woes of Notre Dame this season are a classic illustration of how difficult it is to be an Atlantic Coast Conference team in transition. Senior forward Bonzie Colson leads Notre Dame with 21.4 points per game.
Duke
Despite being one of the biggest name brand blue blood programs in college basketball the Duke Blue Devils have been able to offer consistent betting value this season. Duke is 18-3 straight up and 12-7 against the spread. The Blue Devils are 5-4 against the spread at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Virginia stunned Duke in a 65-63 win as 3.5 point away dogs to overtake Duke as the leader of the ACC. Despite the loss the Blue Devils have paid out in four out of their last six games with five out of their last seven games going under the total. Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s team has covered the spread in five out of nine games at home. Freshman sensation Marvin Bagley III has been absolute dynamite as another superstar find for Coach K. Bagley leads Duke with 22 points and 11.6 rebounds per game.
Duke has covered the Betting odds in their last two meetings against Notre Dame with four out of the last five meetings in this head to head series going over the total.
Matchup to Watch
This Offshore bookmaker matchup offers the stark contrast of a good Notre Dame defense going up against the scoring machine offense of Duke. Duke boasts what is far and away the best player on the floor in Bagley.
Fighting Irish vs. Blue Devils NCAA games Betting Odds Picks
Coach K and the Blue Devils continue to offer excellent betting value and dominant play on the court. The lack of firepower and poor betting value with Notre Dame is worrisome. The pick is Duke.
NCAA Betting Online Pick: Duke Blue Devils
NCAA Betting Online Score Prediction: Blue Devils 98, Fighting Irish 70