by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Mar 19, 2022
NCAA Tournament - Second Round (West Region)
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Venue: Viejas Arena, San Diego, CA
Where to watch: TBS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Texas Tech -7
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: Texas Tech -7.5
Season record
No. 11 Notre Dame: 24-10
No. 3 Texas Tech: 26-9
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Notre Dame - Texas Tech preview and analysis
Notre Dame analysis
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are the latest version of the No. 11 seed coming out of the play-in round to possibly make a run at the Sweet 16. We tend to get this every year or so, and let it be known that the Irish are here to shock the world.
Not to say that will continue on this day in the second round against the Texas Tech Red Raiders because I think the luck runs out. But what a run so far for Notre Dame, who came off a win against Rutgers in the play-in in an epic double-overtime win.
The Irish followed that with an impressive 78-64 win over Alabama in the first round the other night. Cormac Ryan was unreal with 29 points on 10 of 13 shooting while going 7 of 9 from 3-point range. Blake Wesley was right behind him with 18 points.
"I mean, I was just letting it fly. And when you have it rolling, you have it rolling. So picked a good night for it, I guess," Ryan said. "To be able to grit it out — people were saying double overtime, long flight, legs are going to be tired. We were gunning and we were ready to go."
They were absolutely ready to go and that was a situation where the Irish caught lightning in a bottle. Alabama was no slouch, but it wasn't a group that was going to intimidate a lot of people. Whether or not it can happen again remains to be seen. You have to be careful with these 11 seeds when it comes to if they're on fire.
Texas Tech analysis
So, about this Texas Tech team. I've loved them all year. When they beat the likes of Baylor and Kansas, I was on board with this Red Raiders club. Maybe not the group that made it to the national championship game a few years ago, but man they're good.
And they showed that in their latest game, a 97-62 win over Montana State in their first-round matchup on Friday in which the Red Raiders shot nearly 67 percent from the floor. It was one of the best shooting displays in the tournament since the 1995 Syracuse squad.
Terrence Shannon Jr. and Bryson Williams each had 20 points as all five starters scored in double figures.
"I feel like everyone was unselfish," Shannon said. "Nobody was hurrying shots. We did a good job moving the ball, and when we play unselfish and selfless we're a pretty good team."
Texas Tech has shown different ways to win games this year. Sometimes they'll lock teams down with defense and other times they'll just scorch defenses with their shooting much like they did against Montana State. If they keep this kind of production up, the Red Raiders will surely be back in the title game.
"I was a little concerned. I don't want our guys thinking too much offense," Texas Tech coach Mark Adams said. "I want them to stay with our identity on defense. But seriously, it's one of the best offensive games we've had. We really shared the ball."
"I was a little concerned. I don't want our guys thinking too much offense," Texas Tech coach Mark Adams said. "I want them to stay with our identity on defense. But seriously, it's one of the best offensive games we've had. We really shared the ball."
Prediction
While Notre Dame is going to scare some folks, Texas Tech is just too good right now and I can't imagine them losing ground unless Ryan goes nuclear from behind the arc again. I'd expect Texas Tech to dial it back and stay committed on the defensive side of the ball to make things happen. Texas Tech by 12
Betting trends
Notre Dame is 5-1 ATS in their last six as an underdog.
Notre Dame is 1-5 ATS in their last six neutral-site games as an underdog.
Texas Tech is 5-1 ATS in their last six NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.
Projected starting lineup
Notre Dame:
PG: Prentiss Hubb
SG: Blake Wesley
SF: Cormac Ryan
PF: Dane Goodwin
C: Paul Atkinson Jr.
Texas Tech:
PG: Adonis Arms
SG: Terrence Shannon Jr.
SF: Davion Warren
PF: Bryson Williams
C: Kevin Obanor
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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.
