Notre Dame vs. Texas Tech Forecasts, Chances & Picks

The Fighting Irish have already dug deep to reach the round of 32, after some gruesome games – with a scrap with the Red Raiders on top. We break the matchup and March Madness bets with our Notre Dame vs Texas Tech Picks.

D’No.

But considering TTU’s hidden defense intensity and the fact that the Irish are playing their third game of March Madness after releasing the First Four with a win in double overtime, Notre Dame could use a sprinkling of luck and also a few dozen Red Bulls to hang out with the Red Raiders.

Here are our free March Madness picks and predictions for Notre Dame vs. Texas Tech on March 20th.

Notre Dame vs. Texas Tech Chancen

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Texas Tech opened as low as -7 and jumped to as high as -7.5 at some stores. The total beat the board to 133 points and dropped to 132.5 in some sports books.

Use the live odds widget above to track all future line moves up to the tip-off and be sure to check out the full college basketball odds before you place your bets.

Notre Dame vs. Texas Tech Forecasts

Forecasts made on 3/19/2022 at 11:45 am ET.
Click on any forecast to jump to the full analysis.

Notre Dame vs. Texas Tech Game Info

• Location: Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl, San Diego, CA.
• Date: Sunday, March 20, 2022
• Tip-off: 19:10 ET
• TV: TNT

Notre Dame vs. Texas Tech Betting Preview

Injuries

Notre Dame: No one.
Texas Tech: Clarence Nadolny G (Fro).
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.

Betting to know trend

The Red Raiders are 17-5 ATS in their last 22 games versus a team with a winning record. Find more NCAA betting trends for Notre Dame vs. Texas Tech.

Notre Dame vs. Texas Tech Picks and Forecasts

Our page and total predictions are based on our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite choice in all markets.

Spread analysis

Most people scored the Notre Dame against the up-tempo Crimson Tide after playing a 2OT marathon against Rutgers and having to travel twice before round 64. The Irish, however, were already in that “crazy” mentality while Alabama – who did not. and played eight days – looked serious and sloppy in a 78-64 loss to Notre Dame.

That intensity edge is the window to fly out for this round of 32 excursions.

“Fighting” can be a stretch for the Irish versus TTU, especially when Texas Tech swings like it did in the opener with Montana State. The Red Raiders quickly jumped out to a 20-plus point lead and finished the day with an insane 67% from the ground shot, including lights-out 12 for 20 from over the arc.

This offensive excavation is unlikely to be repeated, even if the Notre Dame runs on steam at this point. But play in and play out, you can count on the Texas Tech defense to show up.

We started to see cracks in a tired Irish team versus Alabama, especially in sales. Notre Dame is one of the best ball control teams in the country (just 10.4 sales per trip) but has been named Crimson Tide 18 times in the round of 64.

Texas Tech is raising the heat like a July day in Lubbock, ranked 14. As the Irish get tired, they are careful, translating sales into early buckets at the other end for TTU.

The Red Raiders are the top team in KenPom.com’s “Holy Grail” of March Madness Metrics – Adapted Defensive Efficiency – and while complementing that defense with even half of Friday’s offensive effort, this 7.5 point Covering spread will not be an issue.

Predict: Texas Tech -7 (-110)

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Over / Under Analysis

Perhaps the best approach for Mike Brey’s team when – and when – they get tired on a Sunday is to take the offensive break and work hard on defense.

Notre Dame’s offensive approach is not too far from that philosophy. It runs a very methodical playbook, anchored in short dribble drive attacks at the elbow and kick outs, while Cutters runs underneath. It all takes a good chunk of shot clock, with the Fighting Irish ranked 262nd and average offensive possession.

Defensively, Brey’s crew stops the pass lanes and tries to keep everything out. Notre Dame defends against penetrating passes and builds up work in the half, allowing for less than 12 total assists per game and offering a low 0.454 assists to field goal made rate on defense. This pulls the opponents deep into the shotgun as well.

Texas Tech is very well offensively, but not as good as Friday’s performance would you believe. The Red Raiders are usually not that hot from the perimeter – collecting only 25.4% of their total points from across the arc – and are also a patient playbook with basketball, aiming for entry-level interiors.

Scoring could very well be on a prime in the second half, when TTU’s constant hounding takes a toll and Notre Dame’s legs start to get heavy, leading to jumpers short left. This over / under total is diminutive for a reason.

Predict: Under 133 (-110)

Best bet

The pucky Fighting Irish might be stuck for the first half of this game, but TTU will eventually shut down Notre Dame over 40 minutes.

Coach Brey does not go too far down the bench – even in the best of times (ranked 320th in bench minutes) – and has used a very short seven-man rotation in the tournament so far, with the beginners logging the big floor time.

On the flip side, Red Raiders head coach Mark Adams is not shy about diving into his reserves, at 38. Texas Tech played 14 different guys in the blowout over Montana State, starting five at about 25 minutes.

As already mentioned, the Irish were able to fight for the first half, but there is only so much left in the tank after Notre Dame’s attempted way into the round of 32. And TTU is the last team you want to face in that situation.

Pick: Texas Tech -7 (-110)