by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Dec 03, 2021
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Venue: Silvio O. Conte Forum
Where to watch: ACC Network
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Notre Dame -4
BetMGM: Notre Dame -3.5
Caesars: Notre Dame -4.5
Season record
Notre Dame: 3-3
Boston College: 5-3
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Notre Dame - Boston College preview and analysis
Recent form
Notre Dame: lost 82-72 at Illinois on Monday
Boston College: won 64-49 vs. South Florida on Monday
The Fighting Irish have been on the road since Nov. 22. The long road trip will conclude Friday night when Notre Dame faces Boston College to begin ACC play for both teams.
Notre Dame has lost three of four with two of those games coming in the Maui Invitational in Las Vegas. Losses to Saint Mary's and Texas A&M highlighted that trip to Sin City, but the Irish's struggles continued with a loss to Illinois on Monday in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. South Bend has felt like a ways away.
On the books, Notre Dame has been abysmal. Not counting their 20-point cover against Chaminade in Las Vegas, the Irish are 0-5 against the spread and haven't been close on any of them. They were at least 20-point favorites in their two opening games against Cal State Northridge and High Point, winning by 16 and 9, respectively.
Notre Dame's most consistent player has been guard Dane Goodwin, averaging 15 points per game as the Irish's leading scorer. The senior is the only player in the country averaging 15 points, shooting 48 percent from the floor, 50 percent from 3-point range, and 93 percent from the free-throw line.
In short, he's a walking bucket but needs help at the starter's level. Notre Dame's best production has come off the bench with Blake Wesley averaging 13 points in just over 20 minutes a night. He had 24 against Illinois with 18 coming in the second half.
That's all well and good knowing how much Notre Dame has dominated this series. Notre Dame are 26-12 all-time against the Irish and have won 16 of the last 18 meetings; Boston College won last season's matchup 94-90 in Chestnut Hill.
The Eagles come in having struggled a bit this season. They started 3-0 with wins over Dartmouth, Holy Cross and Fairfield, but then lost three straight with two games to Rhode Island a home loss to the Utah Utes.
BC won its most recent game by 15 points against the South Florida Bulls. Four players scored in double figures led by big man James Karnik's 12 points and seven rebounds in 23 minutes. DeMarr Langford Jr. and Quinten Post also chipped in with 11 points each.
The Eagles covered as 5.5-point favorites against USF after failing to cover the previous two.
Prediction
While Notre Dame has been one-sided in this series, the Irish are 9-7 on the road in this series. Boston College has covered four of the last seven in this series and the line has varied from as low as 5 to as high as 12. Trusting Notre Dame is a dangerous play and the Eagles are in need of an improved performance despite the 5-3 start. Boston College by 8
Betting trends
Notre Dame is 5-14 ATS in its last 19 following a non-conference game.
Notre Dame is 4-11 ATS in its last 15 off a road loss.
Boston College is 7-11 ATS in its last 18 as a home dog.
Projected starting lineup
Notre Dame:
PG: Prentiss Hubb
SG: Dane Goodwin
SF: Cormac Ryan
PF: Paul Atkinson Jr.
C: Nate Laszewski
SF: Cormac Ryan
PF: Paul Atkinson Jr.
C: Nate Laszewski
Boston College:
PG: Makai Ashton-Langford
SG: Jaeden Zackery
SF: DeMarr Langford
PF: T.J. Bickerstaff
C: James Karnik
SF: DeMarr Langford
PF: T.J. Bickerstaff
C: James Karnik
Statistical leaders
Notre Dame:
Points: Dane Goodwin – 15.0
Rebounds: Nate Laszewski – 9.3
Assists: Prentiss Hubb – 3.2
Boston College:
Points: DeMarr Langford Jr. – 12.4
Rebounds: T.J. Bickerstaff – 7.9
Assists: Makai Ashton-Langford – 3.6
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
