NCAAB: In Tech vs. Irish, Eckel on the ACC is gamblin’ on Ramblin’

There’s only one game Sunday in the ACC and it’s not a battle for first place — that was Saturday —it is an intriguing matchup, however.

Georgia Tech +5 at NOTRE DAME, 6 p.m.

The Pick: Georgia Tech +5

Georgia Tech (11-12) beat the Fighting Irish (12-11) at home, 63-61, and haven’t won since, losing to top 25 teams Duke, North Carolina, Florida State and then Clemson. It’s the Yellow Jackets longest losing streak of the season.

Notre Dame has lost six of its last seven, including a blowout loss to Miami (62-47) it’s last time out. The Irish’s only two conference wins this season came against Boson College.

Georgia Tech is better against the spread, 15-8, than it is straight up, always an interesting stat. And the Rambling Wreck is an even more impressive 6-1 against the spread on the road. They are also 11-0-1 against the spread in their 12 meetings with the Fighting Irish.

Notre Dame, meanwhile, is just 8-15 this season against the number and a dismal 4-11 at home.

This number reflects that people haven’t come to terms with the fact the Irish just aren’t very good this year.

Take the points and hope for big games from sophomore guard Jose Alvarado (12.0 points, 4.0 assists) and junior forward James Banks (10.5, 7.4 rebounds).