Northeastern Huskies vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Odds, March Madness Pick

Notre Dame is just 1-8 against the spread in its last nine NCAA tournament games. Northeastern is 8-1 ATS in its last nine games as a double-digit underdog. So the betting trends seem to favor the Huskies for their matchup with the Irish in the Midwest Region's No. 3 vs. No. 14 game Thursday afternoon in Pittsburgh.

Opening spread
The Fighting Irish opened as 12-point favorites. (Compare Lines and Consensus on the Odds Shark matchup report)

Why pick Northeastern to cover the spread

The Huskies began this season with some pressure as the favorite to win the CAA title. They then finished in a tie for first place in the standings and won the conference tournament by knocking off the top seed, William & Mary, in the title game 72-61.

The Odds Shark computer has predicted they will lose but cover the spread here.

So Northeastern is back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1991. The Huskies already own a victory over a Big Dance qualifier this season, Manhattan, and also beat Florida State and Richmond. Northeastern is shooting almost 49 percent from the floor this season, and 39 percent from three-point range. If the Huskies could hit at somewhere around those rates Thursday, they could stay right in this one.

Why pick Notre Dame to cover the spread

The Irish finished in third place in an ACC that sent five other teams to the NCAA tournament this season, then won the conference tournament, beating Duke and North Carolina back-to-back, to return to the Big Dance after missing out last season. Notre Dame owns victories this season over Michigan State, Purdue, North Carolina State and Louisville, and it beat the Blue Devils and Tar Heels both twice, which is a nice trick. The Irish can throw it in the hole at a pretty good rate themselves; their 51 percent field-goal shooting ranks second in the nation. They can play a little defense when they need to as well. Notre Dame is on a 7-1 ATS run; if it can just avoid a letdown after the ACC tournament, it should be fine Thursday.

Smart betting pick

No. 3 seeds are 19-11 ATS against No. 14 seeds since 2007, and Notre Dame, by outclassing Northeastern talent-wise, should extend that trend Thursday. The smart choice in this spot resides with the Irish, minus the points.

Power rankings

Northeastern Huskies: No. 94

Notre Dame Fighting Irish: No. 87 (per Odds Shark power ranks)

March Madness betting trends

Notre Dame 7-1 ATS to end the season

Northeastern 5-2 ATS past seven games as underdogs

Northeastern 8-1 ATS as double-digit underdog since 2012

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