Tag: ACC

Notre Dame Basketball: Mooney Earns Weekly Honor Again

Notre Dame revolves around the double-double machine that is John Mooney, and for the second time this season, the ACC revolves around him. The senior forward was named the conference’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for games played during the …

Notre Dame revolves around the double-double machine that is John Mooney, and for the second time this season, the ACC revolves around him. The senior forward was named the conference’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for games played during the week of Dec. 30. He also won for games played the week of Nov. 11, making him the first conference player this season to win the honor twice.

Mooney had a game to remember in Saturday’s thrilling come-from-behind win over Syracuse, tying his career high of 28 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. It was the second time this season he scored at least 25 points and at least 10 boards. His biggest moment of game came with 36 seconds left, when his offensive rebound and putback gave Notre Dame the lead for good. He shot 11 for 21 from the field over 32 minutes.

Duke forward Matthew Hurt was named the ACC Freshman of the Week, the second Blue Devil to earn the honor this season after Vernon Carey Jr., who has won it three times.

Watch: Highlights of Notre Dame’s Win at Syracuse

Notre Dame avoided an 0-3 start in ACC play with an 88-87 win at Syracuse on Saturday.

Notre Dame avoided an 0-3 ACC start by winning their second straight game at the Carrier Dome over Syracuse, 88-87.

The Fighting Irish started strong, stumbled through some of the middle part before rallying very late to walk out victorious.

In case you missed the game or if you’d like to relive it, check out the highlights as winning at Syracuse never gets old.

Notre Dame looks to get to .500 in ACC play Wednesday night when they travel to take on North Carolina State.

Notre Dame Basketball Earns Much-Needed Victory at Syracuse

Hubb would go on to hit a game-tying three to knot things up at 84 before he hit a pair of free throws that ultimately made the final 88-87 difference.

After dropping both split-ACC contests this season in the opener at North Carolina and the early December home affair with Boston College, Notre Dame needed an ACC win in the worst way possible.

Factor in the Irish had won just three of their previous 21 regular season conference games dating back to March of 2018 and the need for a win was only that more obvious.

Thanks to shooting 15 of 31 beyond the arc (48.4%) the Irish were able to get by Syracuse for the third straight time in the Carrier Dome, 88-87.

Notre Dame had been shooting just 33.8% from three-point range entering Saturday so it was pleasant change of pace for the now 10-4 overall and 1-2 in ACC-play, Fighting Irish.

12 of those 15 three’s came from Prentiss Hubb and TJ Gibbs who had six each and combined for 43 points. John Mooney did his standard double-double thing, scoring 28 while pulling down 14 rebounds.

Leading 70-69 with just over five minutes left Hubb had a bad moment, bumping into Joe Girard and getting hit with a technical foul.

Girard would then score the next ten Syracuse points starting with the two free-throws for the technical and the Orange took a 79-75 lead with 3:37 to go.

Juwan Durham has a put-back before a pair of free-throws by Hubb brought the Irish within an 82-81 deficit with 1:51 to go.

Hubb would go on to hit a game-tying three to knot things up at 84 before he hit a pair of free throws that ultimately made the final 88-87 difference.

Notre Dame improves to 10-4 on the year and 1-2 in ACC play while Syracuse falls to 1-2 in the ACC and saw their three game winning streak end.

Notre Dame returns to action Wednesday night when they’ll take on the Wolfpack of North Carolina State in Raleigh.

Notre Dame Basketball: Irish Survive Back-and-Forth With Orange

Desperate to get in the win column for ACC play, Notre Dame found itself in a contest with Syracuse on Saturday in which the lead changed 18 times. Whenever one team gained momentum, the other would take it right back. Ultimately, it was the Irish …

Desperate to get in the win column for ACC play, Notre Dame found itself in a contest with Syracuse on Saturday in which the lead changed 18 times. Whenever one team gained momentum, the other would take it right back. Ultimately, it was the Irish coming out on top in a wild contest, 88-87, for their first conference win of the year.

John Mooney (28 points, 14 rebounds) broke an 84-all tie with 39.7 seconds left when he got his own rebound off a miss and laid the ball back up and in. It gave Notre Dame the lead for good.

Prentiss Hubb (22 points, nine assists) made it 88-84 with two free throws, and Syracuse struggled to hit a 3-pointer on their final possession. Joseph Girard III finally knocked down a trey with 0.4 seconds left, but by then, the Irish only had to inbound the ball successfully to finish the win. Girard tried to draw a foul on his shot for a potential four-point play, but it was ruled a flop.

T.J. Gibbs scored 21 points for the Irish with all of his field goals coming on 3s. Rex Plueger was involved with a collision that aggravated his surgically-repaired left knee and didn’t play in the second half. However, he wasn’t about to let that diminish his postgame enthusiasm.

Notre Dame Basketball: Re-upping ACC Play vs. Syracuse

The real season for Notre Dame (9-4, 0-2) starts Saturday at Syracuse (8-5, 1-1) as the ACC schedule returns and won’t stop for the rest of the regular season. After that, we’ll know where the Irish stand as far as postseason aspirations. But let’s …

The real season for Notre Dame (9-4, 0-2) starts Saturday at Syracuse (8-5, 1-1) as the ACC schedule returns and won’t stop for the rest of the regular season. After that, we’ll know where the Irish stand as far as postseason aspirations. But let’s not put the cart before the horse.

The Irish enter this game first in the ACC and third nationally in assists at 18.2 a game. With 23 assists in their Dec. 29 win over Alabama A&M, they recorded their fourth game this season with at least 20 dimes. They also have committed the fewest fouls a game in the country (11.6), so the Orange and the rest of the ACC will have to make the most of the few free-throw opportunities available.

John Mooney, the nation’s top rebounder at 10.3 boards a game, needs only eight rebounds to reach 700 for his career.  With seven consecutive double-doubles and 10 for the season to tie for the most in the country, Mooney should be able to get to this milestone quickly.

Birmingham Bowl: Boston College vs. Cincinnati odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Thursday’s TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl betting odds and lines between the Boston College Eagles and Cincinnati Bearcats with betting picks, tips and bets.

The Boston College Eagles (6-6) and Cincinnati Bearcats (10-3) square off at the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl, played at Legion Field in Birmingham. Kickoff is set for Thursday at 3 p.m. ET (on ESPN). We analyze the Boston College-Cincinnati odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Boston College vs. Cincinnati: Three things you need to know

1. Boston College enters this game just 1-6 SU across its past seven games. The Eagles actually held a 7-0 lead in the first half last season in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl in Dallas, but severe weather wiped out the rest of the game and it was not rescheduled.

2. Cincinnati is facing an ACC foe in a bowl game for the second straight year. UC topped Virginia Tech 35-31 in the Military Bowl last season, but the Bearcats are just 3-5 SU across the past eight postseason games.

3. Something’s gotta give, as Boston College is 2-7 ATS in the past nine bowl games, and Cincinnati is 0-4 ATS in its past four bowl outings.

College football season is almost over! Place your bets on this game, or others, at BetMGM now. Place your bets and win, win, win!

Boston College vs. Cincinnati: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 9:15 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Cincinnati 34, Boston College 17

Moneyline (ML)

Cincinnati (-264) is just too expensive at nearly three times the risk of the reward. PASS and look to the spread instead.

Against the Spread (ATS)

CINCINNATI (-7.5, +100) is a good play, even with the hook. My personal preference is to buy that extra point and go Cincinnati (-6.5, -139), and even going down to (-5.5, -154) isn’t terribly costly.

Still, I expect BC to be a bit of a mess with head coach Steve Addazio fired and Richie Gunnell serving as the interim coach. Star RB AJ Dillon, who led the team with an ACC-best 1,685 rushing yards, is also sitting to protect his draft status. Oh yeah, offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian left the team to take the OC job at Northwestern, so he won’t be in Birmingham, either.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 55.5 (-106) is worth a look. Cincinnati’s offense is pretty strong, but I expect BC to be a bit of a mess. This could be a blowout early on, with UC calling off the dogs with a lower-scoring second half.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1623]

Tim Beck to be hired as North Carolina State Offensive Coordinator

There are reports that Tim Beck will be leaving Texas to become OC at NCSU. The announcement will be made after tonight’s Alamo Bowl.

After the season finale against Texas Tech, the Longhorns announced that Tim Beck would be removed from his role as the offensive coordinator. He was kept on the staff as the quarterback coach.

Zach Barnett of footballscoop.com is reporting that Beck will be leaving Texas to accept the position as the offensive coordinator at North Carolina State. Currently in his third season with the Longhorns, the announcement will be made after tonight’s Alamo Bowl.

This will be Beck’s fourth offensive coordinator job in Divison 1 football. Previously the OC at Nebraska, the co-OC at Ohio State, and the job he just lost at Texas, Beck will take on a new conference in the ACC.

The Wolfpack are off a disappointing 4-8 season in which they only averaged 22 points per game. Playing in the ACC Coastal, Beck will be facing off against former Longhorn Head Coach Mack Brown every year.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Boston College at Duke odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Boston College Eagles at Duke Blue Devils sports betting odds and lines, with NCAA basketball betting odds and picks.

The Boston College Eagles (8-5, 2-0 ACC) and Duke Blue Devils (11-1, 1-0 ACC) lock horns at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday. We analyze the Boston College-Duke odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Boston College at Duke: Three things you need to know

1. This will be the conference home opener for the Blue Devils. They topped Virginia Tech in Blacksburg by a 77-63 count Dec. 6.

2. The Eagles fell 80-55 at Cameron last season, just failing to cover a 24-point number. They’re in a similar spot in this one. The Blue Devils fell 89-84 Dec. 9, 2017, in the previous meeting in Chestnut Hill, though.

3. The favorite has cashed in five of the past seven meetings in this series.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

Boston College at Duke: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:40 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Duke 82, Boston College 65

Moneyline (ML)

There was no moneyline available at the time of publishing.

Against the Spread (ATS)

BOSTON COLLEGE (+22.5, -110) has covered the spread in nine of its last 13 road games, while going 9-4 ATS in the past 13 on the road against teams with a winning home mark, too. Duke (-22.5, -110), who inexplicably lost at Cameron against Stephen F. Austin earlier this season, has failed to cover in five of the past six home games.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 140.5 (-106) is the play in this ACC battle in the Triangle. The Under is 7-2 in the past nine for BC, but the Over is 4-1-1 in the past six road outings for the Eagles. For Duke, it’s all Over, all the time. The Over is 6-2 in its past eight, 4-1 in the past five at home and 5-1 in the previous six against teams with a winning overall mark. In fact, I plan to make the Over play as part of my pick pack in the final day of 2019.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=11866]

Watch: Pat Connaughton Posterizes the Chicago Bulls

What you need to know is that the owners of the best record in the NBA right now are the team that employs that one former Notre Dame cager.

Coincidence?

I think not.

You may or may not be aware that there is currently one former Notre Dame basketball player on an active NBA roster.

What you need to know is that the owners of the best record in the NBA right now are the team that employs that one former Notre Dame cager.

Coincidence?

I think not.

Pat Connaughton was an absolute beast for Mike Brey’s Fighting Irish, starting the second half of the season his freshman year and never looking back.

As you remember he was a very-key piece on the 2014-15 ACC Tournament Champion team that went to the Elite Eight and nearly knocked off unbeaten Kentucky and with a Final Four bid on the line.

Connaughton decided to follow the NBA route after the Portland Trail Blazers drafted him in 2015, opting for basketball instead of baseball where the Baltimore Orioles selected him previously as a pitcher.

Connaughton is still in the league and playing for the Milwaukee Bucks where he’s averaging over 17 minutes per game this season.

His biggest highlight to date in a Bucks uniform came Monday night as he did his best Vince Carter impression against the Chicago Bulls.

The Bucks wound up winning the contest 123-102 to improve their league-best record to 30-5.

Belk Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Kentucky odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Belk Bowl between the Virginia Tech Hokies and Kentucky Wildcats, with NCAA football betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Virginia Tech Hokies (8-4) and Kentucky Wildcats (7-5) do battle in the Belk Bowl Tuesday, played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET (ESPN). We analyze the Virginia Tech-Kentucky odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Virginia Tech vs. Kentucky: Three things you need to know

1. The Wildcats will be making their first-ever appearance in the Belk Bowl. They’re looking for a second consecutive bowl victory after upsetting Penn State in the Citrus Bowl last season by a 27-24 count.

2. Kentucky ranks fourth in the country with 274.8 rushing yards per game, while Virginia Tech ranked 27th against the rush defensively, yielding 123.4 yards per outing. That will be where this game is won or lost.

3. The Under is 4-1 in Kentucky’s past five bowl games, while going 6-2 in its past eight neutral-site games. The Over is 6-2-2 in Virginia Tech’s past 10 neutral-site contests.

College football season is almost over! Place your bets on this game, or others, at BetMGM now. Place your bets and win, win, win!

Virginia Tech vs. Kentucky: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Virginia Tech 31, Kentucky 17

Moneyline (ML)

VIRGINIA TECH (-134) was humming along until a loss to Virginia in the regular-season finale. Still, the Hokies are the play here, as Kentucky (+110) is just too one-dimensional. That’s fine against the likes of Vanderbilt or Tennessee-Martin, but it won’t fly against a more seasoned team like the Gobblers.

Against the Spread (ATS)

VIRGINIA TECH (-2.5, -115) is a strong play against Kentucky (+2.5, -106). The Hokies have cashed in five of their past six, and as mentioned, they’re just more balanced. If the Hokies can shut down, or at least limit the likes of Swiss Army Knife Lynn Bowden Jr., who led the team in rushing and receiving yards, they’ll shut down Kentucky and hoist a trophy.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 45.5 (-110) is worth a small-unit play, but don’t get crazy. The Over has dominated for the Hokies in neutral-site games, going 6-2-2 in the past 10, and 7-3-1 in their past 11 as a favorite on a neutral field. The Over is 7-3 in Kentucky’s past 10 against winning teams, and 20-7 in its past 27 non-conference tilts, too.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1623]