FREE CONTEST: #5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs #12 Princeton Tigers ($25 Prize!)
UPDATE: THE WINNER OF THE $25 AMAZON GIFT CARD IS floresv*******@gmail.com CONGRATULATIONS!
Feb 26, 2017; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Bonzie Colson (35) celebrates after a three point basket in the first half against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at the Purcell Pavilion. Notre Dame won 64-60. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Prizing:
1st Place: $25 Amazon gift card
2nd-5th Place: $10 Starbucks gift card
Overview:
On Thursday, March 16th, the (25-9) Notre Dame Fighting Irish will take on the (23-6) Princeton Tigers.
The Crowd:
“The Crowd” projects a final score of Notre Dame 75.1 – Princeton 67.5 with an over/under of 142.6. The Vegas Line has a final score of Notre Dame 69.8 – Princeton 63.3 with an over/under of 133.0.
Statistics (2016-17 season):
Point differential: Princeton +10.6 > Notre Dame +8.8 PPG
Points per game: Notre Dame 78.0 PPG > Princeton 72.1 PPG
Points allowed per game: Princeton 61.5 > Notre Dame 69.2 PPG
Field Goal Percentage Offense: Notre Dame 46.1% > Princeton 45.1%
Field Goal Percentage Defense: Princeton 41.6% > Notre Dame 43.1%
Three Point Percentage: Notre Dame 38.6% > Princeton 38.1%
Turnovers per game: Notre Dame 9.4 > Princeton 10.0
Rebounds per game: Notre Dame 33.8 > Princeton 33.4
Assists per game: Notre Dame 16.0 > Princeton 14.3
Summary:
There has been a 12 seed over a 5 seed upset in 28 of the past 32 NCAA tournaments. Princeton is on fire heading into the tournament having won 19 consecutive games. The Tigers will be without a key rotational player Henry Caruso who is out for the season. Caruso was averaging 9.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. Notre Dame finished the season on a high note going (8-2) in their last ten games. The Fighting Irish played a brutal schedule and went (3-9) against ranked opponents whereas Princeton didn’t play a single ranked team all season. Statistically, these teams are very even in nearly every category.
Scoring efficiency will be key as both teams rank top 5 in fewest turnovers per game. Bonzie Colson (17.5 PPG and 10.5 RPG) is a monster inside for Notre Dame and could cause problems for a Princeton team that lacks size. Princeton ranks 10th in the nation in fewest points allowed per game (61.5). Princeton should be able to keep this game close but can they score enough in Caruso’s absence? Princeton, at the very least, should cover the spread but I picked them to upset Notre Dame in my personal bracket.
**LISTEN HERE** to the latest edition of “The Berger Shop” podcast, sponsored by The Crowd’s Line. This week’s episode features an in-depth discussion talking Showtime Sports Doc on St. Anthony’s Bob Hurley with Brian Dailey.
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