Cincinnati Bearcats versus Notre Dame Fighting Irish Betting Odds

Opening Line: Cincinnati +2 / Notre Dame -2 Over/Under: 132

Time: 7 PM EST March 10, 2011 on ESPN

Both Cincinnati and 4th ranked Notre Dame will be heading to the Big Dance, but each wants to go far in the Big East conference tournament so they can improve their seed in the NCAA Tournament. These two teams met on January 19th at Notre Dame and the Fighting Irish beat the Bearcats 66-58. Both teams ended the season well, as Cincinnati won their last 2 games and Notre Dame won their last 4 games and their last 2 games were against ranked teams.

In their last games Cincinnati killed South Florida 87-61 in the 2nd round of the Big East tourney and while Notre Dame had a double-bye to the quarterfinals of the tourney they beat, then, 16th ranked UCONN 70-67 in their season finale.

This season both teams were good betting ones with Notre Dame going 15-10 ATS and Cincinnati going 15-12 ATS. The Fighting Irish have covered the spread in 6 of their last 7 games against the Bearcats.

This game is being held at Madison Square Garden in New York City and Cincinnati is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games and Notre Dame is 7-2 ATS in their last 9 neutral site games.

Cincinnati is not a high scoring team ranking 174th in the nation in points per game, but their defense is one of the best in the nation ranking 4th in opponents’ points allowed. Cincy has held their last 3 opponents under 39% shooting.

The Bearcats have to contain Big East Player of the Year Ben Hansbrough (18.5 ppg) and F Tim Abromaitis (15.2 ppg). Hansbrough has been on fire lately averaging 26 ppg in Notre Dame’s 4-game winning streak. Both of these guys are shooting at least 41.9% from beyond the 3-pt arc and the Bearcats cannot let these guys have open looks from deep.

Hansbrough did not have a great game in the win over Cincinnati earlier this season, but all 5 starters for the Irish scored in double figures.

The Bearcats may have to rely on their defense, as they only have 2 players averaging in double figures in F Yancy Gates (11.3 ppg) and G Dion Dixon (11.2 ppg). This duo was only 10/26 from the floor in the loss to Notre Dame and overall the team only shot 38.3%. They must shoot the rock better in this game or they will not be moving onto the semifinals of the Big East tournament.

Gates (6.9 rpg) will not only have to score, but hit the glass as well. He is the leading rebounder for the Bearcats and he and Ibrahima Thomas (5.8 rpg) have to team up and not allow Carleton Scott (7.1 rpg) and Tim Abromaitis (6.2 rpg) from dominating the glass, especially on the offensive end of the court.

Betting Trends

Cincinnati is are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games, 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record and has an Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 games.

Notre Dame is 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games, 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following an ATS win, and has an Under record of 6-2-1 in their last 9 games.

Our Selection : The Bearcats need this game more than the Irish and like the Irish have been on a roll winning 6 out of their last 7. Their defense has been dominate in Neutral site games allowing opponents 50.3 points per game and 29.6% shooting from the floor. Take Cincinnati +2 at 5Dimes.