Seton Hall Pirates vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Betting Odds

Opening Line: Seton Hall +1.5 / Notre Dame -1.5 O/U 149.5

Time: 7 PM EST Wednesday March 10, 2010 on ESPN

Tonight in the 2nd round of the Big East conference tournament the Notre Dame Fighting Irish face the Seton Hall Pirates. Notre Dame has 20 wins and double digits in wins in conference play and it looks as if they are off the bubble and will get a Big Dance invite regardless of the outcome of this game. However, Seton Hall is on the bubble, big time, and they may have to win this game, which would be their 20th, to improve their post-season resume.

Seton Hall won a barnburner over Providence 109-106 in the 1st round on the Big East tournament while Notre Dame had a bye, In their last game on Saturday Notre Dame beat Marquette 63-60 in OT.

This season Notre Dame is 14-10-1 ATS and Seton Hall is 8-15-1 ATS.

In their only match up this season Seton Hall beat Notre Dame 90-87 at home on February 21st.

Both teams ended the regular season well, as the Pirates won 3 of their last 4 games, including their last 2, and the Irish won their last 4 games.

One big key for the Irish is the healthy of star Luke Harangody (23.3 ppg 9.7 rpg). He missed 5 games last in the season and he came back in played in the season finale against Marquette, but he only played 11 minutes. Even though the Irish won 3 games without their big gun they are a better team with him in the lineup.

Seton Hall has a good offense averaging just over 81 ppg and has 2 forwards and a guard averaging in double figures led by star G Jeremy Hazell (21.2 ppg).

Notre Dame is led by their frontcourt of Harangody and F Tim Abromaitis (17.2 ppg), but they do have a solid backcourt with guards Ben Hansbrough (12 ppg) and Tory Jackson (9.7 ppg).

Hansbrough and Jackson not only have to provide the Irish with some offense, but they have to keep Hazell from having a big scoring game and from getting open looks from beyond the 3-point arc.

Seton Hall's Herb Pope (11.2 ppg 11.1 rpg) is the main inside threat the Pirates have and he will have to rebound well tonight. If Harangody is still banged up and not 100% Pope may have a nig game on the glass.

Seton Hall is 6-15 ATS in their last 21 games, 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games against teams with a winning percentage above 60%, and has an Over record of 4-0 in their last 4 games,

Notre Dame is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games, 2-5 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games, and has an Under record of 4-0 in their last 4 games.

In the last 8 games between these 2 teams the Over record is 7-0-1.

Our Selection :The Irish will be without All-American Luke Harangody, but played well in his absense knocking off Marquette on the road. Carelton Scott has elevated his game pulling in 27 rebounds in his last two games. Both of these teams have been hot, but Notre Dame has been more impressive with consecutive wins over Marquette, Uconn, Georgetown and Pitt. Bodog has hung up a 1.5 in this game and we're going to bite on the rested Irish. Take Notre Dame -1.5.