Western Michigan vs. Notre Dame Odds
| Western Michigan Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+21.5 -110 | 137.5 -110o / -110u | +1000 |
| Notre Dame Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-21.5 -110 | 137.5 -110o / -110u | -2000 |
Notre Dame has opened the season with a disappointing 4-5 record, but will have an opportunity at an easy victory when it matches up with Western Michigan.
The Fighting Irish opened the season at 3-1, with three victories over opponents that rank outside the top-270 in the country. Since then, they have lost four of five, with the sole win coming over Kentucky.
The offense has struggled to hit shots and ranks 280th in the nation, averaging 67 points per game.
Luckily for them, they match up with one of the worst teams in the country in Western Michigan. The Broncos have the same number of wins as the Irish to this point, but they have come in overtime against both Purdue Fort Wayne (276th) and Southeastern Louisiana (313th) to go along with two Division II opponents.
In its six losses, Western Michigan has been outscored by an average score of 85-60.
Over 40% of the field goal attempts come from behind the arc for both teams, which helps present value on the total in this matchup.
Western Michigan Broncos
Hold your nose if you plan on watching Western Michigan because this program stinks. In its defense, it is still in year two of the head coach Clayton Bates era, and a lot of talent left Kalamazoo in the offseason.
The Broncos own the 343rd-best defensive efficiency ranking and are allowing 79 points per game. Opponents are hitting 37% of their 3-point attempts and 56% of their two-point attempts, which both rank outside the top 300.
The Broncos haven’t shown the ability to force turnovers or secure defense rebounds due to their lack of size.
Offensively, the Broncos have shown a bit of improvement since last season thanks to Lamar Norman Jr., who is averaging 18.4 points per game. The 6-foot-1 junior guard has been the main source of offense and is a proven shotmaker that can score in a multitude of ways.
After him, the group has two other reliable scoring options in Mack Smith and Markeese Hastings. The three account for 56% of the team’s total points on the season and are the main source of offense.
Western Michigan takes 45% of its shot attempts from behind the arc and connects on 33% of them. That strategy could keep the Broncos relatively competitive against Notre Dame, which has been awful at defending 3-point attempts this season.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame was awful defensively last season, as it ranked outside the top 200 in defensive efficiency and allowed opponents to dominate the perimeter. Through nine games, there hasn’t been much improvement on that end of the floor.
Mike Brey runs a strict seven-man rotation that includes only two big men in Nate Laszewski and Paul Atkinson Jr. The two have combined to average 18.8 points and 14.4 rebounds per contest.
The other five players sharing the playing time all stand 6-foot-5 or under, which allows the Irish to spread the floor often.
The Irish have struggled from beyond the 3-point line on both ends of the court. Notre Dame has been one of the worst at defending the 3-point line, allowing opponents to hit 39% of their attempts, which ranks 338th in the nation.
Offensively, the group has hit only 28.6% of its attempts, which also ranks outside the top 300. The Irish present five players who have taken over 30 3-point attempts this season, and only two of them are converting on over 35%.
Notre Dame has the 30th-best offensive efficiency ranking on the season. It has taken care of the basketball and has connected on 51% of its 2-point attempts.
The group won’t have any issue scoring the basketball against a Western Michigan defense that ranks outside the top 300 in nearly every statistical category.
Western Michigan vs. Notre Dame Betting Pick
This is the first of two cakewalk opponents upcoming for Notre Dame before it begins ACC play. The Irish will look to get into a groove with their 3-point shooting, as they match up against a Western Michigan defense that ranks 307th in defending the outside shot.
It’s hard to put into words how bad this Broncos defense has been through the first 10 games of this season. The unit ranks outside the top 300 in nearly every defensive statistic and will have little chance of slowing down the Notre Dame offense.
Western Michigan has faced two top-50 opponents this season — Michigan State, which scored 90, and Iowa, which scored 109 against the Broncos.
Norman Jr. has burst onto the scene for Western Michigan and ranks third in the MAC in scoring this season. He’s scored in double digits in eight games in a row and is averaging 3.6 3-pointers per game.
He has potential for a big game matching up with a Notre Dame defense that ranks in the bottom-20 in the country in defending the outside shot.
Notre Dame should be able to put on an offensive clinic and Western Michigan will hit enough shots to have this game played into the 140’s.
