Villanova vs Notre Dame Prediction & Picks: College Basketball 11/1-2

Tip-off for Villanova vs Notre Dame is Sunday, November 1 at 6:30 AM PT / 9:30 AM ET in Rome, Italy, and the guys flagged it as the first game of the year. Villanova was a 7.5-point favorite when the guys taped on October 29, and all three took Notre Dame. This is the pick from the College Basketball Picks episode.

Villanova vs Notre Dame Odds

Villanova was a 7.5-point favorite over Notre Dame when the guys taped on October 29.

Our Picks

Ryan Kramer (@KramerCentric): Notre Dame +7.5
Sean Green (@SeanTGreen): Notre Dame +7.5
Colby Dant (@thecolbyd): Notre Dame +7.5

The segment started with the setting. The guys were surprised Notre Dame was sent to Rome, and they found out the event is a men’s game and a women’s game, with no other men’s games on the card. They also pointed out that Villanova has a 7’3″ Italian sensation, and that Notre Dame has a legit Italian of its own.

The case for the dog came quickly. One of the guys called Notre Dame the play because he liked its lineup, and he said he loves fading the Villanova coach. Another mentioned that Virginia beat Villanova 93-71 in an exhibition, and that this game has the feel of one. He said he usually likes favorites in international games, but Notre Dame’s Italian was going to matter.

There was some talk about the court. The international version is a little shorter and has a deeper three-point line, and the paint is 16 feet wide against 12 in college. They did not know whether the court would be repainted. A joke about the Pope going to Villanova came up, and the answer was still the points.

The numbers sealed it. The guys noted KenPom had the game at seven and Torvik at six and a half, both shorter than 7.5, and said you gotta trust the data guys this time of year. Seven and a half is a lot for the first game of the year, and that was the last word: all three on Notre Dame.

Hear the full breakdown on the College Basketball Picks: Sunday 11/1 & Monday 11/2 episode, or listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Watch every game on YouTube, and download the SGPN app at sg.pn/links. See all our College Basketball Picks.