There’s no end in sight to Georgia Tech’s losing woes after they stumbled to their third consecutive defeat Saturday in a seven-point loss to Wake Forest. The Yellow Jackets will look to snap their losing rut and grab their first win in the ACC this season when they face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish who are coming off a tough six-point loss to Virginia that snapped their own 11-game winning run.
Read on below for a preview of this important matchup and while you’re at it, you can check out our preview of the game between Iowa State and Baylor here.
[sc:MarchMadness ]Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Betting Preview
Where: McCamish Pavilion, Atlanta
When: Wednesday, January 14, 2015, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-4) vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (+4) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
Betting on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame suffered a gut-wrenching 62-56 defeat to the Virginia Cavaliers last time out. The Fighting Irish were no match for Virginia’s swarming defense as they failed to score a field goal in the game’s final four minutes of play. That resulted in the Cavaliers unleashing a late 9-0 blast that turned a close affair into an easy Virginia win.
[sc:NCAAB240banner ]It’s back to the drawing board for head coach Mike Brey and the rest of the Fighting Irish, who are now 3-1 this season in conference play. For them to return to their winning ways against Georgia Tech this coming Wednesday, they will need to get their high-flying offense going once again.
The Fighting Irish are ninth in the NCAA in scoring this season, averaging 83.3 points per game. They found it difficult, however, to execute their offensive sets against a Virginia side that is first in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 51.1 points per game this season.
It’s crucial for the Fighting Irish to give touches to guard Jerian Grant quickly. Grant, who leads the team in scoring with 16.6 points per game this season, struggled mightily against a tough Virginia defense, scoring just six points on 2-of-8 shooting from the field.
With Grant struggling on the offensive end, the Fighting Irish’s forays inside the shaded area became limited as well. With their dribble penetration not working, Notre Dame scored just 20 points inside the shaded area against Virginia, well below their season average of 38.4 paint points per game (third-most among major conference teams).
They will fancy their chances, however, of dominating the interior when they meet the Yellow Jackets this coming Saturday. The last time these two teams met more than a week ago, when Notre Dame outscored Georgia Tech 54-40 inside the paint.
That proved to be the difference in the match as the Fighting Irish hacked out a tough 83-76 victory over the Yellow Jackets in double overtime.
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Betting on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Georgia Tech’s ACC struggles continued on Saturday night after they were thumped by the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, 76-69. It was the third straight defeat for the Yellow Jackets who have now lost five of their last eight games.
Effort was clearly lacking in Georgia Tech’s part as the team was outrebounded by the Demon Deacons 41-29. It was the first time this season that Georgia Tech failed to control the rebounding battle, much to the dismay of head coach Brian Gregory who voiced his displeasure after the game.
He said, “They went after us and we didn’t respond. That’s not who we are, that’s not what we do, and that’s not good.” He will look for a much better performance from his side this coming Wednesday, especially as they’ll face the red-hot Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Even though the Fighting Irish are flying high at the moment having won 15 of their 17 games this season, the Yellow Jackets can take pride in the fact that they took Notre Dame to the brink the last time they faced the Fighting Irish a week ago.
The Fighting Irish needed 10 extra minutes to overcome a gutsy Georgia Tech side, 83-76, in double overtime. Marcus Georges-Hunt led the way for the Yellow Jackets, scoring 20 points. He had an opportunity to give Georgia Tech a famous victory in regulation but lost the ball on a drive to the hoop in the final play of the game.
What made it possible for Georgia Tech to keep pace with Notre Dame was their advantage in the rebounding department. They dominated the boards, outrebounding Notre Dame, 46-31. They were unstoppable, especially on the offensive glass where they grabbed a total of 19 offensive rebounds.
It’s vital for the Yellow Jackets to impose their might on the rebounding end once again. The onus is on Charles Mitchell (7.8 RPG) and Demarco Cox (6.1 RPG) to control the boards for the Yellow Jackets. The two of them combined for just 11 rebounds in their loss to Wake Forest.
Writer’s Prediction
Notre Dame wins, 70-58.
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