Rutgers vs. Notre Dame Prediction & Odds: College Basketball Betting Preview for Nov. 25

The second day of the Players Era tournament is underway today and I'm kicking off my analysis with my Notre Dame vs. Rutgers prediction. Tipoff is 1 p.m. ET (TNT) from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Notre Dame is a 6.5-point favorite after both teams lost on Monday, but I’m counting on a rock fight early to get today's action started.

These matchups are a part of Feast Week, and you can stay on top of all the hoops action this Thanksgiving with our college basketball Feast Week guide.

✅ Rutgers vs. Notre Dame prediction & expert picks

See all of our experts' college basketball picks this week.

🏀 Rutgers vs. Notre Dame preview & score prediction

At first glance, this spread is a touch high for two teams with similar resumes. Evan Miya’s projections seem to agree with me, as that website forecasts a 73.8-69.5 battle in favor of Notre Dame.

Which team will respond?

Both Notre Dame (4-2) and Rutgers (4-2) are coming off double-digit losses during the first day of the tourney in Las Vegas. Rutgers suffered a 25-point loss to Tennessee, while Notre Dame was handed a 10-point defeat by a Kansas team missing its best player.

Yet that’s not the only thing these two teams have in common. They both want to play at a slower pace. Rutgers ranks 287th in adjusted tempo, while Notre Dame is 309th. That plays into why my colleague Mike Spector breaks down the total in his college basketball best bets today.

Because this game will feature fewer possessions, I have a difficult time seeing how Notre Dame pulls away to cover this spread. The Fighting Irish have dropped two of their past three games, with their lone win being an 86-79 victory over Bellarmine, which ranks 310th overall on KenPom.

Rutgers, which ranks 131st on KenPom, can put up a fight in this early-morning matchup.

Score prediction: Notre Dame 74, Rutgers 70

🆚 Rutgers vs. Notre Dame matchup to watch

Both teams vs. Sleepy start

This is an early start time. Tipoff will be 10 a.m. local time in Las Vegas, one day after they were both in action on Monday.

As a result, I wouldn’t be surprised if both teams got off to a sleepy start on Tuesday. Rutgers scored 30 points in the first half on Monday, including 10 in the first 10 minutes. Notre Dame was barely better at 32 points in the first half against KU.

First-half totals are limited as of this writing, but Fanatics is one of the only best sports betting sites offering a total of 67.5. I’d be willing to play this at 65.5 or better.

Best prop bet: First half Under 67.5 (-110 via Fanatics)

📊 Rutgers vs. Notre Dame odds

See live college basketball odds for every game.

📺 How to watch Rutgers vs. Notre Dame

• Date: Tuesday, Nov. 25
• Tipoff: 1 p.m. ET
• Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena (Las Vegas)
• TV: TNT