Notre Dame and Connecticut are featured in this overview in the past week of college basketball betting, looking at the Big East in the early season.  We look at why they’ve been so successful

We’re taking on two of three teams in the Big East who are both undefeated straight up and against the spread (alright, Louisville is the third).  Notre Dame and Connecticut are two teams that have impressed in the last week in NCAAB betting lines, definitely.


Notre Dame Starts Off Strong


For a team that many projected to be around seventh in the Big East, 7-0 is a pretty impressive start to say the least for Notre Dame.

In the Old Spice Classic Notre Dame went 3-0 against the spread, wiping away Georgia, California, and Wisconsin in order.  A double-overtime win was first, then they held Cal to a five-point first half, and finally came through with a 15-0 run to take the title against Wisconsin.

With only 11 turnovers per game and ninth in the nation with 44.7 rebounds per game, Notre Dame is on a roll.  Tim Abromaitis is leading the Fighting Irish with 16.0 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game (second on the team).

We’ll have to see how they fare against elite teams: they face #11 Kentucky and #24 Gonzaga in early December after their next game against Indiana State on Tuesday.  While I don’t think they’ll be 10-0 of course, they could provide some value in NCAAB lines.


Connecticut Jumps Into Top 25


To start the season Connecticut wasn’t even ranked.  In the Maui Invitational many picked Wichita State to take down Connecticut.  Three games later Connecticut took down that team and two top-ten teams – and is now the ninth ranked team in the nation.

NCAAB sportsbooks had them in the first game by two points, which Connecticut beat Wichita State by four points.  Then as the underdog against #2 Michigan State and #9 Kentucky (now #6 and #11, respectively), Connecticut provided the 70-67 upset against the Spartans and the 84-67 blowout upset to the Wildcats.

Look no further than Kemba Walker and Alex Oriakhi.  Walker is averaging 30.0 points per game, with 4.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.2 steals per game.  He is shooting 52.7% from the field.  Oriakhi is averaging a double-double with 13.4 points and 12.0 rebounds per game – with 2.4 blocks per game and shooting 61.4% from the field.

3-0 against the spread with five wins on the season, Connecticut has a favorable schedule ahead.  They should very easily be 10-0 before their next real test: when they travel to play #3 Pittsburgh on December 27th. 

Value in college basketball lines for Connecticut will be highly dependent on how odds makers play it.  We’ll have to see how the Huskies fare in bigger spreads as well, going forward.


Overview


These are two teams in the Big East that could continue to do major damage and offer value in NCAAB betting lines.  Keep track of them and plenty of other big stories in college basketball with SBR.

Look for other college basketball betting previews from SBR.  The NCAAB Handicapping Forum and live odds also are a worthwhile stop to get ready for betting odds.