Notre Dame vs. Florida State Odds
| Notre Dame Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2 -106 | 139 -110o / -110u | -125 |
| Florida State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2 -114 | 139 -110o / -110u | +104 |
It's the final week of regular-season play in the ACC, and we've got Notre Dame heading south to take on Florida State. The Irish have won seven of their last eight and are still alive for a share of the regular-season title.
The Seminoles are coming off of a dramatic buzzer-beating victory in Charlottesville, where Matthew Cleveland somehow tossed in a 30 footer at the horn to beat Virginia, 64-63.
Leonard Hamilton's team has been decimated by various injuries throughout the season, and as a result, this will be the first time in a long time that the Noles will not be apart of March Madness.
It's the opposite for Mike Brey's squad, which features a group of seniors who have never played in the NCAA Tournament. The Irish made it a goal in the offseason to get back, and they appear poised to do exactly that.
Will FSU show some fight at home and get a victory? Or will ND continue its winning ways on the road?
Let's get into it.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Brey has been known throughout his tenure in South Bend for building a "culture of passing." His Irish teams typically take good care of the ball, make the extra pass and have shooters all over the perimeter.
For the last three seasons that type of offensive efficiency was lacking from Notre Dame. The senior class of Prentiss Hubb, Dane Goodwin and Nate Laszewski knew they needed to finally get to the NCAA Tournament after taking plenty of punches in their early years.
This year's group is not only playing far better on the offensive end, but they are also guarding at a much higher level than prior seasons.
Yale transfer Paul Atkinson Jr. has given the Irish a durable big on the inside, who can score with his back to the basket and rebound in traffic.
Freshman Blake Wesley has been the other key difference maker for Notre Dame. Without Wesley, the Irish did not have a playmaker who could put the ball on the deck and consistently get to the rim.
Wesley has that in his game, and he has also played very maturely despite only being 18 years old.
Notre Dame is still somewhat limited athletically, but this is a team that can win a game in the NCAA Tournament due to its experience and ability to shoot the basketball.
Florida State Seminoles
It's just been one of those years for Florida State. It started with losing Malik Osborne for the season due to an injury, and it has only continued from there with injuries to Anthony Polite and Caleb Mills.
Hamilton has built an extremely consistent program in Tallahassee, and I have little doubt the Noles will get back to where they have been next season. He just hasn't had enough experienced bodies this year.
If there is a bright spot for this year's group, it is without question Cleveland. The 6-foot-7 wing has gone for 16 points or more in his last three outings, and he is doing it in a very efficient manner from the field.
Cleveland has tremendous athleticism and upside, and if Hamilton can get him back next season — coupled with another strong recruiting class — FSU will be back in business.
Notre Dame vs. Florida State Betting Pick
Notre Dame opened as a short road favorite in this one, and I think that's where the value lies. The Irish are a veteran group and they are playing with a ton of confidence right now. I think the urgency will be there to add a seventh road league win and stay alive in the ACC title race.
Polite and Mills both appear to be long shots to play Wednesday night, which leaves FSU shorthanded. The Noles will have limited reliable scoring options outside of Cleveland and RayQuan Evans.
Expect ND to be able to get plenty of open looks in the half-court. Assuming the Irish can knock down their fair share of them, I don't see how FSU will be able to keep up.
Give me the Irish to handle business on the road.
Pick: Notre Dame -2
