Update: Monday, March 1 (Game Results). With the Cat’s 72-93 loss to Notre Dame, we congratulate three VU Hoops readers who took medals in this round. Gold Medal: VU92 (73-84) earning 5.0 points; Silver Medal: Old School (68-80) earning 3.0 points; Bronze Medal: mj (65-82) earning 1.0 point. Our updated leader board is provided below.
VUHoops vs. Vegas: Based on the average predicted scores of the VUHoops Crowd and the posted Vegas line, we would have broken even by betting Nova +5 (loss) and the Over (win). The details follow. With the push, we remain +$500 for the season.
| VU Hoops | Vegas | Bet | Actual | Result | |
| Spread | 'Nova -1.0 | 'Nova +5.0 | 'Nova +5.0 | ND by 21 | LOSS |
| Total | 141.0 | 139.0 | OVER | 165 | WIN |
Leader Board After 30 Rounds:
| Reader | Points |
| regred | 25.0 |
| BarneyRubble | 21.0 |
| Hugh Jass | 21.0 |
| Beardog | 18.5 |
| Mouph Man | 15.5 |
| Pat'12 | 15.0 |
| chuck st.petersburg | 14.5 |
| Joe | 14.5 |
| mj | 14.0 |
| Old School | 14.0 |
| TC'87 | 13.5 |
| novafan95 | 12.5 |
| Robertrise | 11.0 |
| hit the bid | 10.5 |
| Joey | 10.5 |
| Nervous Nelly | 10.5 |
| NovaFlyer | 10.0 |
| Palsgraf | 10.0 |
| TK87 | 9.5 |
| dom | 8.5 |
| Pena Power | 8.0 |
| Simple'07 | 8.0 |
| Two in the Pinkston | 8.0 |
| Chicken Dinner | 7.5 |
| NovaCat94 | 7.5 |
| Dj pizzle | 7.0 |
| mfc4293 | 7.0 |
| REPRESENT804 | 7.0 |
| DP5 | 6.5 |
| friartownmayor | 6.5 |
| Kittlesfan95 | 6.5 |
| Steph | 6.5 |
| Johnnyb1 | 6.0 |
| mattymo | 5.5 |
| Clarkkell | 5.0 |
| honey badger | 5.0 |
| Jmac'09 | 5.0 |
| Kait'08 | 5.0 |
| marty1029 | 5.0 |
| SeanDon | 5.0 |
| VU92 | 5.0 |
| Ed'77 | 4.5 |
| gaparch | 4.5 |
| Stevie V | 4.5 |
| Andy'06 | 4.0 |
| Colt | 4.0 |
| Ed'08 | 4.0 |
| doctor feelgoodes | 3.5 |
| Jimmy | 3.5 |
| Arctic Cat | 3.0 |
| Bill '77 | 3.0 |
| CJ | 3.0 |
| DMC | 3.0 |
| Mark Anderson | 3.0 |
| miles'88 | 3.0 |
| Novachamps22 | 3.0 |
| Schitzengigles | 3.0 |
| Tommyboy | 3.0 |
| cdtoffers | 2.5 |
| Pete (Aliti 13) | 2.5 |
| super nova | 2.5 |
| David '06 | 2.0 |
| Lou '06 | 2.0 |
| pttam7yanks | 2.0 |
| Bri'13 | 1.5 |
| CMM | 1.5 |
| EG'77 | 1.5 |
| Esto | 1.5 |
| FLM'33 | 1.5 |
| Mark A | 1.5 |
| mprams | 1.5 |
| Rick19 | 1.5 |
| Loser Cruiser | 1.0 |
| MarkA | 1.0 |
| Matt | 1.0 |
| Muhley | 1.0 |
| Rich'09 | 1.0 |
| The Chameleon | 1.0 |
| Vinny'06 | 1.0 |
| bgunn | 0.5 |
| Brendan '10 | 0.5 |
| Christopher Coggins | 0.5 |
| David | 0.5 |
| FishersTalent13 | 0.5 |
Update: Monday, March 1 (Game Time) A total of 46 VUHoops readers posted predictions, twelve picking the Irish to win. As a group, the readers see ‘Nova winning by a score of 71-70 (a margin of 1.0 points and implied over/under of 141). The Vegas odds makers are picking Notre Dame to win by 5.0 points and set the over/under at 139.0 points, implying a final score of 67-72. KenPom.com’s model is predicting a ‘Nova loss by 4.0 points and a score of 68-72.
Scatter Plot of Predicted Scores
Window Opening: Sunday, February 28 (12:00 Noon). The Big East schedule makers have left us little time to lick our wounds. Mindful that the liquor stores do not open for business until Noon, I mercifully waited until now to open the window for readers to post their predicted final scores for ‘Nova’s game at Notre Dame on Monday (7:00 PM) in the penultimate round of our Closest to the Pin Contest.
After twenty-nine rounds, regred remains in the lead with 25.0 points. Click here to see our current leader board. In our VUHoops vs. Vegas competition, VUHoops is up $500 for the season.
Given the collective state of mind of 'NovaNation after successive home losses to Syracuse and St. John's, it will be interesting to see how many of us die-hard loyalists pick Notre Dame to win this game. The fading #15 Cats (21-8, 9-7) have an RPI of 31, a SOS of 31, are scoring an average of 73.7 PPG while giving up an average of 64.7. The #9 Fighting Irish (23-5, 12-4) have an RPI of 10, a SOS of 36, and are scoring an average of 75-1 PPG while giving up an average of 65.2. The margins of victory / defeat for all of Notre Dame’s Big East games so far this season are as follows:
| Notre Dame Wins | Margin |
| Cincinnati | 8 |
| Connecticut | 3 |
| DePaul | 25 |
| Georgetown | 14 |
| Louisville | 10 |
| Marquette | 5 |
| Pittsburgh | 5 |
| Providence | 1 |
| Rutgers | 7 |
| Seton Hall | 12 |
| South Florida | 23 |
| St. John's | 15 |
| Notre Dame Losses | Margin |
| Marquette | -22 |
| St. John's | -18 |
| Syracuse | -12 |
| West Virginia | -14 |
More statistical information about Syracuse is available at Statsheet.com.
KenPom.com’s model is predicting Nova will lose by 4.0 points by a score of 72-68.
Be sure to check out Brian’s game preview.
Special Notes:
- When posting scores, please remember to list your predicted score for Villanova first, followed by the opponent’s score (e.g., ‘Nova 70 – Notre Dame 65).