Notre Dame vs. Rutgers: First Four odds, final score predictions from ESPN, KenPom
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (22-10) take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (18-13) in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday at 9:10 p.m. ET. Here’s how to watch, odds, ESPN BPI predictions and KenPom game predictions as well for both teams ahead of Wednesday’s First Four clash.
How to watch Notre Dame vs. Rutgers
Time: 9:10 PM ET
Channel: truTV
Location: UD Arena — Dayton, Ohio
Odds
Notre Dame is a 1-point favorite over Rutgers on Wednesday, according to Vegas Insider.
Money line: Notre Dame -115, Rutgers +115
Spread: Notre Dame -1, -110, Rutgers +1, –110
Total: Over/Under 132, -110
Check out the rest of Vegas’ odds for Wednesday’s slate here.
ESPN BPI Predictions
Matchup quality: 84.1%
Win probability: Notre Dame, 61.1%
Predicted point differential: 2.7
The College Basketball Power Index (BPI) is a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of performance going forward. BPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Strength of Record (SOR) is a measure of team accomplishment based on how difficult a team’s W-L record is to achieve.
Game predictions account for opponent strength, pace of play, site, travel distance, day’s rest and altitude, and are used to simulate the season 10,000 times to produce season projections. Numbers update daily,’ per ESPN.
For the rest of ESPN’s BPI predictions, click here.
KenPom Predictions
Score prediction: Notre Dame 67, Rutgers 65
Win probability: Notre Dame, 56%
Check out the rest of KenPom’s predictions for Notre Dame vs. Rutgers and the entirety of college basketball here.
More on Notre Dame vs. Rutgers
As you can see, multiple outlets believe the matchup between Notre Dame and Rutgers will be razor-close. Both teams had to fight hard to make the NCAA Tournament, and both teams will fight even harder to keep their season alive.
First, Notre Dame is led by exciting guard Blake Wesley. On the season, Wesley paces the Fighting Irish in scoring — averaging 14.6 points per game. Down low, forward Paul Atkinson Jr. leads the team in rebounding at 7.0 per game.
In their last game, the Fighting Irish suffered an unfortunate defeat to Virginia Tech — the eventual ACC Champions. Rutgers will be the third Big Ten squad the Fighting Irish plays this season, as Notre Dame fell to Illinois and Indiana earlier this season.
On the other hand, no team in the nation has a more uneven resume than Rutgers. While they have wins over the best the Big Ten has to offer, they also suffered demoralizing losses to teams like UMass and Lafayette. Nevertheless, they’re in the NCAA Tournament, and hoping to make some noise.
Moreover, the Scarlet Knights are led into battle by forward Ron Harper Jr. — who averaged 15.6 points per game. Additionally, center Clifford Omoruyi leads the way with 7.9 rebounds per game, and guard Geo Baker is a player to watch — he has the clutch gene running through his veins.
In their last game, Rutgers got out to a huge lead against the eventual Big Ten Tournament title-winning Iowa Hawkeyes. However, Iowa star Keegan Murray led a furious comeback, scoring 26 in a Hawkeyes victory. Now, Rutgers is looking to rebound against Notre Dame in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament.