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Notre Dame vs Long Island Week 1 Betting Preview
Notre Dame opens its season at home Monday against Long Island at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Ind. The Fighting Irish look to build off last year’s 15-18 finish, while the visiting Sharks aim to validate their preseason pick to win the Northeast Conference.
Markus Burton returns as one of the nation’s elite scorers after averaging 21.3 points and 3.0 assists per game, earning a spot on the Bob Cousy Award watch list. Coach Micah Shrewsberry said Burton’s conditioning and leadership have improved, calling him “the engine of our team.”
Long Island brings back senior guards Malachi Davis (17.7 PPG) and Jamal Fuller (12.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG), giving coach Rod Strickland one of the most experienced backcourts in the NEC.
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Line Movement and Odds
According to live updates from our NCAA basketball odds board Notre Dame opened around -14.5 with a total of 145.5. Bettors have leaned slightly toward the home side, pushing the spread toward -15.
Early sharp money has hit the under after openers showed value on Notre Dame’s slower pace and improved defensive metrics from preseason exhibitions.
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Matchup Breakdown
Notre Dame Outlook
Burton headlines an offense that ranked top-five in ACC usage rate last year. The Irish also return Braeden Shrewsberry, who averaged 14 points, and senior forward Kebba Njie, who anchors the interior. Improving late-game execution is key after a 6-7 mark in contests decided by six points or fewer.
Long Island Outlook
The Sharks went 17-16 last season and shot 45 percent from the field. They’ll test Notre Dame’s backcourt defense early, as both Davis and Fuller earned preseason all-league honors.
Notre Dame’s ability to limit dribble penetration and control the glass could decide tempo. If Burton pushes pace, the Irish should cover comfortably.
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Injuries and Conditions
Notre Dame
- No major injuries reported entering the opener.
- Freshman forward Tommy Ahneman (knee) remains out indefinitely.
Long Island
- No significant injuries reported from the program’s game notes.
See each team’s status and depth updates on the Notre Dame team page and Long Island team page
Best Bets and Prediction
Notre Dame should dictate tempo behind Burton’s shot creation. Long Island’s perimeter scoring can keep it competitive early, but depth and size favor the Irish.
Projected score: Notre Dame 78, Long Island 63
Best bet: Notre Dame -15 spread
Secondary lean: Under 145.5
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