UConn vs. Notre Dame Women: Picks, Predictions and Odds

The 55th edition of one of the best rivalries in women’s college basketball, UConn vs. Notre Dame, takes place at Purcell Pavillion in South Bend, Indiana on Thursday night.

The Huskies lead the overall series 39-15, but the Fighting Irish have taken the last two contests, including an 82-67 victory in Connecticut in January.

UConn has won eight straight to start the season and is currently ranked second.

The Huskies have already defeated ranked teams in North Carolina, Ole Miss, and Louisville.

Connecticut defeated Louisville 85-52 earlier in the week. Notre Dame slipped up in the Cayman Islands Classic right after Thanksgiving, losing twice, but is 7-2 and No. 8 in the nation with two of the most impressive victories of the season.

The Fighting Irish have handed current Top-six teams USC and Texas their only losses to date.

Entering this game, Notre Dame and UConn, along with South Carolina, are the three teams with the shortest odds to win the National Championship.

UConn vs. Notre Dame betting picks and predictions

Notre Dame +2.5 (-110)

This is Connecticut’s first true road contest this season and they lost Azzi Fudd (10 ppg) to a minor knee strain in the Louisville victory.

That puts the onus even more on superstar Paige Bueckers (18.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and forward Sarah Strong (16.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg), who scored a game-high 21 points against the Cardinals. 

The Fighting Irish counter with perhaps the best backcourt trio in the nation. Hannah Hidalgo (24.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg) is third in the nation in scoring while shooting 46.2 percent from the floor. She had 24 points and 10 rebounds in the team’s most recent contest, a 93-62 win over Syracuse, and had a 30-point game in a 10-point win over Texas in OT a few days before.

Olivia Miles is averaging 17.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 6.6 assists, and Sonia Citron is going for 14.9 points and 6.4 rebounds a game.

Notre Dame has inside weapons as well, with Pittsburgh transfer Liatu King (12.1 ppg, 11 rpg) and freshman Kate Koval (8.3 ppg, 8.3 apg) providing a stout paint presence. Koval ranks second in the country in blocks with 3.7 per game.

Although Notre Dame has a shorter bench, the team has brought its best against the best so far this season and that should continue in this clash, so back them to cover the narrow spread.

Over 139.5 total points (-110)

UConn is averaging more than 80 points a game while holding opponents to under 50. Notre Dame is averaging nearly 86 points a game and allowing 63.

We’re thinking both elite offenses will outplay the defenses in what is expected to be a fast-paced matchup.

In terms of whether the Over or Under will hit in this game, it comes down specifically to UConn’s defense against Notre Dame’s offense.

The Fighting Irish have gone over Thursday's line of 139.5 points in seven of their nine games this season. Meanwhile, the Huskies have gone under 139.5 points in seven of their eight contests. 

Look for the Irish to push the tempo and score enough for the two teams to total Over 139.5 points.

Read more College Basketball betting picks and predictions on site.

UConn vs. Notre Dame odds

UConn	-140 ML
Notre Dame	+120 ML
Spread	Connecticut - 2.5
Total Points	O/U 139.5

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.