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

The whole country may have froze over the last 10 days, but you can’t cool down the Miami Hurricanes.

Jim Larranaga’s team has won eight straight and the Hurricanes are now 12-1 on the season. Last time out, they knocked off No. 6 Virginia, 66-64, and shot up to No. 14 in the country. Now, they’ll look to stay hot against Notre Dame up in South Bend. 

The Fighting Irish are 8-5 and 0-2 in conference play, but they’re barely underdogs at home today. Let’s get into the odds and I’ll tell you how I’m betting this ACC matchup:

Miami vs. Notre Dame Odds, Spread and Total

Miami vs. Notre Dame Prediction and Pick

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. Plus, I’m in my senior year at George Mason and there’s a lot of connections with Larranaga and Miller, who transferred from Mason. 

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. 

I like Miami to win and cover on the road, but because of the pace and some potential rust from over a week off I love the under. 

Follow all Josh Yourish’s bets HERE

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change