Sport: College HoopsPick Selection: Notre Dame
At 7 pm, our complimentary selection is on Notre Dame. Two of the top three teams will meet Thursday night in Louisville, where Rick Pitino's Cardinals will take on Mike Brey's Fighting Irish in a match-up of Top 20 clubs. Notre Dame probably is not thrilled that its lone game vs. Louisville must take place on the road, and that's because the Irish currently have the 2nd longest home win streak in the country (at 35 games). Only BYU has won more (45) than Notre Dame. In its last game (a 7-point home win over Syracuse), Notre Dame was led by guard Kyle McAlarney, who set a Notre Dame record with nine 3-point goals. McAlarney tallied 30 points in that game, and it was the third time this season, he's hit the 30-point threshold. Notre Dame also received a strong game from center Luke Harangody, who scored 13 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, for his 16 double-double of the season. Against Louisville, Harangody (the Big East's leading scorer) will have to play well vs. Louisville's David Padgett for the Irish to come out on top. These two squads have met seven times since 1991, and Louisville has NEVER covered the spread. I won't buck that history. Take Notre Dame plus the points in this big game at Freedom Hall on Thursday. Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.
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