When Youngstown State visits Notre Dame on Sunday afternoon, it will look to extend its two-game winning streak to start the season. This will be a significant step up in competition for the Penguins, who have victories over Canisius and UT Martin. Despite a rocky start to the season, the Fighting Irish eventually defeated Radford on Thursday as an 18-point favorite, 79-76.
Last season, the Fighting Irish had a 14-1 home record and an overall record of 24-11. Last season, the Fighting Irish had 26.1 made field goals and 14.0 assists per game. Last year, the Penguins had a 12-9 overall record in Horizon League play and a 6-8 road record. Last season, the Penguins had 11.1 turnovers, 2.6 blocks, and 5.4 steals per game.
Youngstown State vs Notre Dame Betting Odds
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Youngstown State vs Notre Dame Match Details
Fixture: Penguins at Fighting Irish
Date and Time: Sunday, November 13 at 4:00 PM ET
Venue: Joyce Center, Notre Dame, IN
Youngstown State vs Notre Dame Key Stats
The Penguins won't play another school from a big conference this year, so the Penguins will be concentrating on giving it their all on Sunday. The Penguins, who are ranked No. 23 out of 363 Division I institutions, are one of the most seasoned teams in the nation.
Their offensive performance has gotten off to a strong start, as they are shooting 41.7% from beyond the arc. In terms of offensive rebounding percentage, the Penguins are ranked No. 31 in the country, and the Fighting Irish's defense is ranked No. 337.
Despite being able to start the offseason with a victory, the Fighting Irish still have a lot of room for improvement going into the matchup on Sunday. With 5:19 left in the game, the Fighting Irish were down by five points against Radford despite being the 18-point favorite. However, they came back, helping seasoned head coach Mike Brey continue his perfect record in home openers (23-0).
The Fighting Irish, who ranks third in that area, are one of the few teams in the nation with greater experience than the Penguins. The Fighting Irish are ranked No. 106 on defense and No. 22 on offense in the rankings. They are 230th in offensive rebounds; thus, their numbers will need to increase.
Youngstown State vs Notre Dame Best Picks and Prediction
Youngstown State will continue to be my choice, though, for motivational reasons. This is the Penguins' only chance to stake a claim on the national stage, as they don't play another Power-5 team this season.
Since they won't be frightened by the environment, their roster is ready for this kind of game. Throughout the entire game against Radford, Notre Dame appeared unsteady because it never seemed deserving of a sizable spread.
Pick: Youngstown State +11.5 (-106)
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