March Madness odds: Notre Dame vs. George Mason

2008 ncca tournament bracket
2008 ncca tournament schedule
NCAA tournament bracket


There seems to be an upset in the 5-12 game in the NCAA Tournament's first round every year, so you know Notre Dame (24-7) will be on high alert for its East Region game Thursday night in Denver against 12th seed George Mason (23-10), with the Irish 6.5-point betting favorites at WagerWeb.com.

Everyone remembers the Patriots' improbable run to the Final Four two years ago, but this year's team is not very similar to that one.

"We're very different," Coach Jim Larranaga said. "We're much smaller, we're not as deep, and we’re younger."

Larranaga's crew lost 10 games in the regular season but turned it on when it mattered most and won the Colonial tournament - kind of like they did in 2006. Will Thomas is a rebounding machine at 10.5 per game and will be asked to neutralize Irish star Luke Harangody while Dre Smith and Folarin Campbell will be asked to knock down 3-pointers to spread the defense.

"Will is always under the radar," said Campbell. "Harangody and Will, that's going to be quite a matchup down low. Will's not going to back down from anyone."

Campbell and Thomas, holdovers from '06, are 1-2 in scoring this year at 15.9 and 15.8 points per game. But at 6 feet 7 inches, Thomas is the tallest player in the Patriots' top seven.

"They've got tough kids," said Notre Dame coach Mike Brey of GMU, which early in the season beat Dayton, Kansas State and South Carolina. "They've got some older kids and they've won together for awhile. I think they've got good physicality. I think they've got physicality similar to a Big East team. That's probably why I make the comparison. ... I was impressed with how physical they are on the front line."Last season Notre Dame ran into another experienced mid-major team in Winthrop, which ousted the Irish in a first-round upset.

Winners in six of their last seven games (and 11 of 13) before losing to Marquette in the Big East Tournament, the Irish feature a powerful offense led by Big East Player of the Year Harangody (20.8 points and 10.2 rebounds) and Kyle McAlarney (103 3-pointers). Notre Dame must continue its mastery on the boards where it had a plus-5.8 rebound margin this year.

Notre Dame made 41 percent of its 3-pointers this year with McAlarney and Ryan Allen combining for 156 treys. A first-team All-Big East selection, McAlarney was second in the league in 3-point shooting percentage at 44.8 percent. If the Irish go cold -- George Mason allowed only 32-percent 3-point shooting – the Patriots could pull the upset.

The Irish average a sizzling 80.7 points per game (holding opponents to 69) and shoot 46 percent from the floor. Turnovers, however, have been a problem with more than 13 giveaways per game. And in ND's losses this season, the opponents all shot well above 40 percent from the floor.

Prediction: Irish are too big inside and will cover.