The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (13-9, 3-6 ACC) travel to North Carolina State to play the Wolfpack (15-7, 5-4 ACC) in a game that has the potential to be high-scoring. The game starts at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 3, 2018.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack Free Prediction
In the Fighting Irish’s last game, they were thoroughly outplayed by the No. 4 Duke Blue Devils, 88-66. Duke’s offensive rebounding percentage was their biggest strength over Notre Dame. The Blue Devils had a rate of 48.4 (above their season average of 40.6), while the Fighting Irish posted a mark of 28.2. T.J. Gibbs led Notre Dame in scoring with 22 points on 6-for-16 shooting.
The Wolfpack defeated the No. 10 North Carolina Tar Heels in their last game, 95-91. North Carolina State’s turnover percentage was their largest strength over North Carolina. The Wolfpack had a rate of 9.7 (better than their season average of 14.4), while the Tar Heels posted a mark of 14.8. With 20 points, 11 assists and five rebounds, North Carolina State’s Markell Johnson had a good game.
It might turn into a high-scoring affair as a pair of the nation’s top offenses clash. North Carolina State currently ranks 54th with 112.8 points per 100 possessions and Notre Dame is 41st (113.4). Furthermore, the Fighting Irish commit the 15th-fewest errors in the NCAA (turnover percentage of 15.4 percent), while the ball-hawking defense of the Wolfpack causes the 57th-most (opponents’ turnover percentage of 21.6 percent).
Gibbs has averaged 17.4 points and 4.4 assists over the last five games for Notre Dame.
This is the second game of the season between these two teams. Gibbs scored a game-high 22 points in the first matchup, in which the Fighting Irish beat the Wolfpack 88-58. He also put up seven rebounds and five assists. The Fighting Irish knocked down 19 of their 25 free throws (76.0 percent) and had a much better effective field goal percentage (0.616 vs. 0.417).
Notre Dame Fighting Irish at North Carolina State Wolfpack Pick
Free Basketball Pick: SU Winner – Notre Dame, ATS Winner – Notre Dame, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes:
North Carolina State ranks 48th in assists per game (16.0) while Notre Dame ranks 156th in assists allowed per game (13.7).
The Wolfpack rank 50th in three pointers allowed per game (19.7) while the Fighting Irish rank 143rd (22.2).
Notre Dame ranks 67th in blocks per game (4.0) while North Carolina State ranks 157th in blocks allowed per game (4.2).
The Fighting Irish rank 84th in rebounds per game (37.3) while the Wolfpack rank 160th in rebounds allowed per game (35.2).
Notre Dame ranks 45th in steals allowed per game (5.3) while North Carolina State ranks 116th (6.3).
Betting Trends:
The Fighting Irish have been outscored by an average of 8.2 points in their last five games. On the season, Notre Dame has defeated opponents by an average of 9.2 points.
During their last five games, the Wolfpack have scored an average of 74.2 points per game (6.8 below their season average) and allowed an average of 75.2 points per game (1.8 above their season average).
