Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Cincinnati Bearcats
Wednesday, 1/4/12, 7:00 PM EST, TV: ESPN3
Opening Point Spread: Cincinnati -8
Current Betting Line: Cincinnati -8
Opening Total: 131
Current Total: 131
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Notre Dame returns to the court following a seven-day layoff to face Cincinnati inside Fifth Third Arena. The Fighting Irish will be facing the Bearcats for the 12th time, posting an 8-3 mark in the previous 11 meetings. Head coach Mike Brey was very happy with his team’s effort in capturing a 72-59 victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers as three-point home underdogs on Dec. 27, 2011. “I have been a part of a lot of fun games here,’ stated Brey. “But this one ranks right up there with the best.” Notre Dame is 5-2 against Cincinnati since the two teams started playing against each other in Big East Conference play.
The Fighting Irish have registered a 19-4 record over their last 23 Big East Conference games. Sophomore guard Eric Atkins averages 14.0 points per game to lead the team offensively, while also grabbing 2.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. Notre Dame has used eight different starting lineups this season, with no player starting every game this season. The squad ranks second nationally and first in the Big East Conference in fewest turnovers committed per game.
Cincinnati comes off a 66-63 victory over Pittsburgh as six-point road underdogs and has gone ‘under’ the total in two consecutive contests. “This is what UC basketball is all about,” commented Bearcats guard Sean Kilpatrick. “That’s all we are about.” The Bearcats have lost their last three meetings with the Fighting Irish, including an 89-51 defeat in the last matchup as 2.5-point underdogs on March 10, 2011. Cincinnati is 0-4 ATS at home this season and 9-20 ATS when hosting the last two-plus campaigns.
The Bearcats are looking to start conference play 2-0 for the third consecutive season, averaging 12.2 three-pointers over their last six games. Cincinnati will welcome back three players to the rotation tonight, serving a six-game suspension due to their involvement in a fight against Xavier. Kilpatrick leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, scoring in double figures in 13 of 14 games this season. Cincinnati is 4-2 in Big East home openers, winning its last two opportunities.
Bettors will likely back the Fighting Irish due to their 21-8 ATS mark versus Big East teams, while the Bearcats are 0-4 ATS in the last four meetings.
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