The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-2) and No. 2 Houston Cougars (6-1) meet Wednesday in the Players Era Festival from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tip is set for 3:30 p.m. ET (TNT). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA basketball odds around the Notre Dame vs. Houston odds and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions for the best bets.

Notre Dame lost its opener in the event 71-61 to the Kansas Jayhawks Monday, failing to cover as a 5.5-point underdog. It then took down the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 68-63 Tuesday, again failing to cover as a 7-point neutral-court favorite as the Under (141) cashed. Notre Dame is 3-4 against the spread (ATS), and 1-1 ATS as an underdog.

Houston beat the Syracuse Orange 78-74 in overtime Monday, failing to cover as a 14-point favorite. It then lost 76-73 to the No. 16 Tennessee Volunteers Tuesday as a 3-point favorite, with the Over (136) hitting. The Cougars are just 2-5 ATS through their first 7 games. They have been led by G Kingston Flemings, who is averaging 17.3 points per game.

– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Watch NCAA basketball on Fubo!Notre Dame vs. Houston odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:01 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Notre Dame +500 (bet $100 to win $500) | Houston -700 (bet $700 to win $100)Against the spread (ATS): Notre Dame +10.5 (-105) | Houston -10.5 (-115)Over/Under (O/U): 132.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)Notre Dame vs. Houston picks and predictionsPrediction

Houston 77, Notre Dame 63

PASS.

There’s no value on the moneyline. Houston (-700) should come out on top yet is far too expensive to consider.

BET HOUSTON -10.5 (-115).

This Cougars team is different than in past years, and they have some players, like Flemings and G Emanuel Sharp, who can score with ease. Houston has had 3 different players score at least 20 points in this event. It has scored at least 73 points in all but 1 game this season.

Notre Dame has had a rough time scoring against competent opponents. In games in which it was either a single-digit favorite or an underdog, it has scored 68 or fewer. The Fighting Irish are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 contests.

Take HOUSTON -10.5 (-115) to be able to score enough to separate itself here.

BET OVER 132.5 (-110).

Houston has prided itself over the last few seasons on defense, but in games in which it has been favored 15 or fewer, it is 3-0 O/U and has allowed at least 72 points.

While Notre Dame’s offense isn’t at the level of Tennessee, it has averaged 64.5 points per game through 2 games here. The Fighting Irish are 1-0 O/U in games with a total under 140 as well.

Back OVER 132.5 (-110).

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