Miami vs. Notre Dame Prediction and Odds for Friday, December 30 (Go Low on Total in South Bend)

EDITOR’S NOTE: THE FOLLOWING PREVIEW WAS WRITTEN BY BETSIDED’S JOSH YOURISH:

—

Notre Dame has a chance to cool down one of the hottest teams in the country when they host the Miami Hurricanes at 2 p.m. ET this afternoon from Purcell Pavilion.

Jim Larranaga’s team has won eight in a row and the No. 14 ranked ‘Canes are now 12-1 on the season. Last time out, they knocked off No. 6 Virginia, 66-64.

The Irish are 8-5, and 0-2 in conference play. Yet they’re barely underdogs at home.

Let’s get into the odds and I’ll go over my Miami vs. Notre Dame best bet for this afternoon:

Miami vs. Notre Dame Odds, Spread and Total

Miami vs. Notre Dame Prediction and Pick

While I lean towards betting on the Hurricanes, I think the under is the better play overall.

I loved this Miami team in the tournament last year and I love them even more this season. With Isaiah Wong and Jordan Miller controlling things in the backcourt, and their four guard lineups that they love to play, they’re efficient on offense and lethal at the end of games.

Considering the speed of Wong and their desire to have four ball handlers on the floor nearly at all times, Miami doesn’t play all that fast. In KenPom adjusted tempo, they’re 132nd and they’re 194th in possessions per game. They are No. 11 in KenPom adjusted offense and outside the top 100 defensively.

It’s a similar story for Notre Dame, 43rd in adjusted offense and 203 at the other end. That level of efficiency on offense would make most people lean towards the over, but I look more at pace and Miami doesn’t play fast, but they’re Usain Bolt compared to the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame is 350 out of 363 in possessions per game.

Because of the pace, along with some potential rust from over a week off, I’ll take the under in South Bend today.

Follow all of Josh Yourish’s bets HERE!

—

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.