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Game Preview Detroit Mercy @ Notre Dame
The Detroit Mercy Titans visit the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Friday night at Purcell Pavilion, where Micah Shrewsberry’s revamped Irish look to continue their red-hot perimeter shooting. Notre Dame opened its season with an 89-67 win over Long Island, while Detroit Mercy seeks to regroup after a 91-71 defeat at Illinois Chicago.
For Notre Dame, the opener revealed a promising mix of experience and depth. Sophomore guard Cole Certa and freshman Ryder Frost came off the bench to ignite the offense, combining for 10 made three-pointers on 13 total attempts. Certa finished with 22 points, while Frost added 12. Returning ACC scoring leader Markus Burton led all players with 24 points and five assists, once again proving to be the offensive engine.
Detroit Mercy’s first outing showed early potential before fading due to shooting woes. The Titans led UIC 23-13 early but finished just 8-of-40 from beyond the arc. Junior-college transfer Ayden Carter provided 18 points off the bench, but poor defensive rotations and rebounding cost them control. Coach Mark Montgomery will look for greater shot efficiency and composure against a Notre Dame squad that spaces the floor and punishes defensive lapses.
As both programs adjust their rotations, bettors can follow real-time adjustments on the NCAAB odds and scores board for live value.
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Odds and Key Information
Notre Dame enters as a heavy favorite, with its efficient perimeter offense contrasting Detroit Mercy’s inconsistent shooting.
| Key Betting Line | Value |
|---|---|
| Spread | Notre Dame -24.5 (-110) |
| Moneyline | Notre Dame -5000 / Detroit Mercy +1600 |
| Total | 151.5 O/U |
| Venue | Purcell Pavilion, South Bend, IN |
| Time | 7:00 PM ET (ACC Network Extra) |
Understanding big-market favorites requires balance between value and volatility. Tools like handicap in betting and what does the spread mean in betting can help contextualize lopsided lines like this one.
Notre Dame Outlook
Micah Shrewsberry’s second season at the helm is already signaling transformation. The Irish shot 53 percent from the field and 48 percent from deep in their opener, demonstrating spacing and confidence that mirrors Shrewsberry’s NBA-influenced offensive philosophy.
Markus Burton, last year’s ACC scoring leader, picked up where he left off with 24 points, while Certa and Frost’s bench production gives the team the type of depth and shooting Notre Dame lacked in 2024–25. The Irish also controlled tempo, finishing with just eight turnovers and 22 assists on 33 made field goals.
Defensively, Notre Dame’s challenge will be maintaining focus against less-polished opponents — a lesson often reflected in line volatility explained in sports betting strategies to win big. Expect Shrewsberry to emphasize transition defense and rebounding to avoid complacency.
More team metrics and player breakdowns can be found in the NCAAB teams directory.
Detroit Mercy Outlook
Detroit Mercy’s opener revealed both offensive aggression and inefficiency. Despite launching 40 threes, the Titans converted only 20 percent of their attempts and shot 39 percent overall. Mark Montgomery’s offense aims for pace and spacing, but poor shot selection and rebounding issues allowed UIC to take control early in the second half.
Ayden Carter, a high-energy guard from the JUCO ranks, emerged as a bright spot with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting. His attacking mentality and physicality at the rim give Detroit Mercy a spark off the bench.
To keep this one competitive, the Titans must improve perimeter defense and slow the pace. Their shot volume can keep them alive, but another sub-25 percent effort from deep would put them in immediate trouble. The value of volume versus accuracy is explored further in alternate total points — a key concept in assessing up-tempo underdogs.
Key Matchup Table
| Statistical Category | Edge |
|---|---|
| Field Goal % | Notre Dame (53%) |
| 3PT Shooting | Notre Dame (48%) |
| Free Throw % | Detroit Mercy (79%) |
| Rebounding Margin | Notre Dame (+10) |
| Turnovers | Notre Dame (8 per game) |
Notre Dame’s ball movement and shooting create separation in nearly every key metric. Detroit Mercy must contest the perimeter and generate second-chance points to avoid falling behind early.
Betting Trends
Notre Dame is 1-0 straight up and ATS after its blowout victory over Long Island. The Irish have covered in four of their last six home openers and tend to start fast offensively — averaging over 42 first-half points in that span.
Detroit Mercy is 2-6 ATS in its last eight road games and 1-7 straight up versus Power Six opponents since 2022. The Titans have hit the under in five of those matchups, largely due to low shooting efficiency.
Applying knowledge from futures betting pros and cons can help manage exposure across long-term markets when evaluating rebuilding programs like Detroit Mercy.
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Prediction
Notre Dame’s shooting depth and offensive cohesion should overwhelm Detroit Mercy’s defense from the outset. Expect Markus Burton to orchestrate pace while Certa and Frost stretch the floor. Detroit’s limited perimeter defense will likely lead to another high-efficiency outing for the Irish.
Projected Score: Notre Dame 89, Detroit Mercy 64
Spread Pick: Notre Dame -24.5
Total Lean: Under 151.5
While Notre Dame’s offensive potential points to a blowout, the Irish typically slow tempo once the game is secured — keeping the under in play. Bettors seeking alternative markets can reference what is a moneyline in betting and what does 1×2 mean in betting.
Why You Need Expert Picks
Large nonconference mismatches like this often carry inflated spreads and unpredictable totals. The Handicappers Leaderboard provides expert insight on line movement, efficiency ratings, and tempo trends to find optimal value.
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Track updated spreads, ATS data, and expert consensus daily on the NCAAB picks page to stay ahead of market shifts.
