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The ACC/SEC Challenge brings an intriguing contrast in styles as undefeated Missouri visits a defensive-minded Notre Dame team that has yet to lose at home. Missouri’s high-powered offense will be tested in a true road environment against a program that leans on toughness, half-court execution and the Purcell Pavilion edge.
Match Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Matchup | Missouri Tigers vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish |
| Competition | ACC/SEC Challenge |
| Date | Tuesday, December 2, 2025 |
| Time | 9:00 PM ET |
| Venue | Purcell Pavilion, South Bend, IN |
| TV | ESPNU |
| Records (SU) | Missouri 8-0; Notre Dame 5-3 |
| Home/Away Split | Missouri 1-0 away; Notre Dame 5-1 at home |
| Missouri Challenge Record | 2-0 in ACC/SEC Challenge |
| Notre Dame Challenge Record | 0-2 in ACC/SEC Challenge |
For broader futures context beyond this single matchup, it is useful to see where both programs sit in the national landscape using updated college basketball championship odds.
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Line and Odds
| Market | Side/Number | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Missouri +1.5 | -122 |
| Spread | Notre Dame -1.5 | -104 |
| Moneyline | Missouri | -107 |
| Moneyline | Notre Dame | -116 |
| Total Points | Over 149.5 | -112 |
| Total Points | Under 149.5 | -109 |
To track real-time line moves and compare this spread and total with the rest of the board, use the NCAAB odds and scores page throughout game day.
Movement Matchup
This is a classic offense-versus-defense showdown. Missouri enters averaging 92.9 points per game while shooting 55.5 percent from the field, leading the SEC in field-goal percentage and ranking among the most explosive offenses in the country. They feature five double-digit scorers and just showcased their ceiling by opening a blowout win over Cleveland State with a 23-0 run, finishing with a 40-18 edge in points in the paint and a 20-5 advantage in second-chance points.
Notre Dame offers the stylistic counterpunch. The Fighting Irish lack explosive offensive depth but make up for it with physicality, discipline and defensive buy-in. In Las Vegas, they fell 66-56 to then-No. 3 Houston but nearly erased a 26-4 deficit with a hard-nosed second-half surge. Notre Dame has allowed more than 70 points just once all season, an 86-79 win over Bellarmine, which underscores how often they drag opponents into slower, half-court games.
The market’s tight number reflects the tension between Missouri’s pace and shot-making and Notre Dame’s ability to control tempo at Purcell Pavilion. Missouri’s schedule strength is the one glaring question mark, as the average KenPom ranking of its opponents is 281. This trip is a step up in class and a real measuring stick. Notre Dame, coming off a rugged tournament run, is more battle-tested and comfortable in late-game, possession-by-possession scenarios.
For bettors building a full card, it helps to pair this matchup analysis with the broader slate of college basketball picks on ScoresAndStats.
Breakdown Injury Reports
No specific injury information was provided for key rotation players in the current notes. As of now, both teams are assumed to be relatively healthy, but final status should always be confirmed closer to tipoff.
| Team | Player Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Tigers | Not specified | No key injuries listed in the available data. |
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish | Not specified | No key injuries listed in the available data. |
Even a single rotation player being downgraded can impact pace, rebounding and defensive matchups, so monitoring late news is important, especially if the line starts to move.
Missouri Tigers Recent performance
Missouri comes in at 8-0 with eye-catching underlying numbers. The Tigers average 92.9 points per game and own an average margin of victory of 24.7 points, which highlights their ability not only to score but also to bury opponents early. Their 55.5 percent team field-goal percentage confirms that this is not simply a volume-driven offense; they generate and convert high-quality looks across multiple positions.
The Cleveland State game was the clearest illustration of their dominance. By racing out to a 23-0 lead and cruising to an 86-59 victory, Missouri showed how rapidly it can flip a competitive game into a blowout. Jacob Crews paced the team with 20 points and eight rebounds, and the Tigers controlled the interior on both ends with a huge advantage in paint points and offensive boards.
The one caveat is strength of schedule. Missouri’s opponents to this point have come from the softer side of the college basketball spectrum, with an average KenPom ranking of 281. That makes this first major-conference road test critical for evaluating whether the Tigers’ metrics are sustainable against better athletes and more structured defenses.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Recent performance
Notre Dame brings a 5-3 record into this contest, but the more telling number is the 5-1 mark at home. The Fighting Irish are clearly more comfortable at Purcell Pavilion and rely on that edge to balance out their limitations on offense. They are coming off a 1-2 effort at the Players Era Festival, capped by a 66-56 loss to then-No. 3 Houston.
The Houston game was revealing. Notre Dame fell behind 26-4 but responded with a determined second-half push, ultimately falling short but proving they can defend at a level that frustrates even elite opponents. Freshman guard Markus Burton is the centerpiece of their attack, posting 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists in that contest and providing the shot creation they badly need.
Offensively, Notre Dame averages 75.4 points per game while shooting 46.4 percent from the field. Those numbers are solid but not overwhelming, fitting a profile of a team that can execute when it gets into its sets but relies on defense and effort to stay in games. They are 5-0 straight up when listed as the favorite, which matters in a near pick’em situation like this one.
Bettors looking to sharpen their approach to evaluating defense-first teams like Notre Dame can benefit from the broader concepts broken down in the basketball expert betting guide, which applies well across both pro and college handicapping.
Betting Insights and Trends
From a betting angle, three themes stand out: Missouri’s offensive surge, Notre Dame’s profile as a home favorite and the tug-of-war between pace and defensive resistance that will shape the total.
Missouri’s 8-0 straight-up record and average win margin nearing 25 points cannot be ignored, even against a soft schedule. They have demonstrated the ability to front-run and sustain pressure, which is exactly what can destabilize a methodical team like Notre Dame. Their one road game resulted in a win, suggesting they are at least comfortable traveling, though not yet fully tested in hostile environments like South Bend.
Notre Dame’s 5-1 home record and 5-0 mark as a favorite signal a team that responds well to expectation and leverages its building. Their defensive consistency and willingness to scrap when down were clear in the Houston game. If they can force Missouri to play deeper into the shot clock and limit live-ball turnovers, they can drag the Tigers into a lower-possession, grind-heavy game that favors the Irish.
The total of 149.5 sits right in the middle of the competing narratives. Missouri’s offensive stats and pace would normally suggest a game played into the 80s or 90s on their side. Notre Dame’s body of work suggests totals in the 120s or 130s. The final number will likely depend on who dictates tempo: Missouri pushing early offense and attacking the rim, or Notre Dame slowing possessions, switching matchups and forcing contested jumpers.
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Best Bets and Prediction Handicapper section
Model projections lean toward Missouri in this spot despite the Tigers being a slight underdog. The forecast calls for an 85-80 Missouri victory, which not only covers the +1.5 spread but also suggests the road team is in a strong position to win outright.
Missouri’s scoring punch and efficiency are the driving factors. A team averaging 92.9 points with a 55.5 percent field-goal clip is difficult to fade when catching points, even against a quality defense. Notre Dame’s home edge and defensive identity are significant, but if Missouri continues to generate quality looks and control the glass, the Irish may struggle to keep pace if the game opens up.
The projected combined score of 165 points sits well above the posted 149.5 total, pointing to value on the over. If Missouri forces tempo and Notre Dame is pushed out of its defensive comfort zone, this matchup can evolve into a high-possession game where both sides reach or exceed their season scoring norms.
Best bet: Missouri +1.5
Total recommendation: Over 149.5, anchored by Missouri’s pace and offensive efficiency and the expectation that Notre Dame will be forced to score more aggressively at home to keep up.
To round out your card and line this play up with other edges on the Tuesday slate, cross-reference this handicap with the rest of the day’s college basketball picks on ScoresAndStats.
