With both teams at 20-6 and enjoying matching 8-5 conference
records this encounter looms as a make or break for each where the Big East Regular Season crown is concerned.
With Pittsburgh ranked 20th nationally and Notre
Dame 25th, this game could be considered somewhat of a hard one to
pick. Me, well I settled on Pittsburgh as 5-6 point favourites based mainly on their
defensive prowess which sees them as the strongest such outfit in a very competitive
conference.
I also factored in how poorly Notre Dame were in their last
game which saw them capitulate in Providence by 17. Then again, Pittsburgh just
went down by 10 in their biggest game of the season against conference leader
Marquette on Sunday.
I guess we could go backwards and forwards all day on this one, but the
bottom line is the 10 point handicap Notre Dame has received seems ridiculously
generous.
For starters Notre Dame has played 75 straight games since
they’ve lost consecutive games by a double digit margin. And while the Fighting
Irish hasn’t quite turned themselves into the powerhouse outfit of the 1970’s
just yet, Mike
Brey probably has the best Notre Dame squad at his disposal since those
days, with a NCAA tournament victory or three this season well and truly on the agenda
in South Bend.
Pittsburgh probably are the better outfit than Notre Dame,
in fact they’ll be among of the best outside picks
among the unfancied come tournament time, yet I’m just not quite sure they
should be double digit favourites in a game against ranked conference
opposition. Between you and me they’ve also dropped their last 4 against Notre
Dame, having entered each of those match-ups as overwhelming favourites too.
Take the points on Notre Dame or perhaps the $5.30 straight out if you're feeling particularly adventurous.
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