Detroit Mercy vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish Prediction and Picks - November 7, 2025
Use Code WWWC College hoops action on Friday evening, and we have a Detroit vs Notre Dame prediction locked and loaded for you. Detroit enters this game at 0-1 on the year and has now lost its last nine games dating back to last year. Notre Dame comes in at 1-0 on the year after grabbing an easy 89-67 home win over Long Island on Monday night. These teams last met in 2020 and Notre Dame won that game at home by a score of 78-70. Read on to see our Detroit vs Notre Dame vs Ohio prediction.
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Titans Get Burned By The Flames
Detroit Mercy opened its season with a tough 91-71 loss at UIC, a game that highlighted both the promise and the problems this team will need to address quickly. Ayden Carter led the way with 18 points, showing his ability to score inside and out, while Keshawn Fisher added 12 and Orlando Lovejoy chipped in 11. The Titans actually hung around for stretches, but defensive lapses and turnovers allowed UIC to pull away in the second half. For a program trying to climb back into Horizon League contention, the opener was a reminder that consistency and discipline will be critical if they want to compete with higher-level opponents.
Lovejoy remains the heart of this team. He led Detroit Mercy last season in points, rebounds, and assists, and his ability to create offense both for himself and others is what keeps the Titans competitive. Against Notre Dame, he’ll need to control tempo and avoid the kind of empty possessions that doomed them in Chicago. The Titans also need more from their supporting cast—players like Nate Johnson and TJ Nadeau have shown flashes in the past, but they’ll need to step up against ACC-level talent. If Detroit Mercy can get balanced scoring and avoid long droughts, they’ll at least give themselves a chance to hang around.
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Defensively, the Titans have to be sharper. UIC shot nearly 50 percent from the field and knocked down timely threes whenever Detroit tried to make a push. That can’t happen against Notre Dame, especially on the road in South Bend. The Titans do have some length and athleticism, but rotations were slow and second-chance points piled up in the opener. Facing a Notre Dame team that just scored 89 in its opener, Detroit Mercy’s defense will be tested immediately. If they can’t tighten up, it could be another long night.
Notre Dame Easily Tops Long Island
Notre Dame started its season on the right note, rolling past Long Island 89-67 at Purcell Pavilion. Markus Burton looked every bit the star, scoring 24 points and setting the tone offensively, while Cole Certa came off the bench and caught fire from deep, hitting six threes on his way to a career-high 22 points. Freshman Ryder Frost added 15, giving the Irish a balanced scoring attack that overwhelmed LIU. Head coach Micah Shrewsberry has emphasized pace and spacing, and in the opener, his team delivered with crisp ball movement and efficient shooting in the second half.
One of the biggest positives for Notre Dame was the work on the glass. Transfer forward Carson Towt pulled down 19 rebounds, dominating the paint and giving the Irish extra possessions. That kind of effort will be key all season, especially against teams that try to slow the game down. Burton’s ability to control tempo and Certa’s shooting give Notre Dame multiple ways to score, and if Towt continues to clean the boards, the Irish will be tough to beat at home. Against Detroit Mercy, expect Notre Dame to push the pace and test the Titans’ defense early.
Defensively, Notre Dame showed flashes of what it can be. They held LIU to under 39 percent shooting and forced 15 turnovers, though Shrewsberry wasn’t thrilled with the 19 turnovers his own team committed. That’s an area they’ll need to clean up, especially as the competition ramps up. Against Detroit Mercy, the Irish will look to pressure Lovejoy and force the Titans into rushed shots. If Notre Dame can replicate the defensive intensity they showed in stretches of the opener, they should be able to control this game from start to finish.
Detroit vs Notre Dame Pick
Detroit vs Notre Dame Spread Pick
- Notre Dame -20.5 (2 Units)
Notre Dame -20.5 looks like the right angle because the Irish showed in their opener that they can overwhelm opponents with depth and shooting. Markus Burton is the engine of the offense, scoring 24 points against LIU while controlling tempo, and Cole Certa came off the bench to bury six threes, giving Notre Dame instant firepower. Add in Carson Towt’s dominance on the glass with 19 rebounds, and you’ve got a team that can create extra possessions and stretch leads quickly. Against a Detroit Mercy squad that just gave up 91 points to UIC, Notre Dame’s balance and efficiency should be too much to handle, especially at Purcell Pavilion.
Defensively, the Irish have the tools to keep Detroit Mercy from hanging around. They held LIU under 39 percent shooting and forced 15 turnovers, and that kind of pressure will test Orlando Lovejoy and the Titans’ backcourt. Detroit Mercy struggled with defensive rotations and second-chance points in their opener, and facing Notre Dame’s pace and spacing only magnifies those issues. If Burton continues to push the tempo and Towt controls the boards, the Irish should be able to build separation early and maintain it, making the 20.5-point spread well within reach.
Detroit vs Notre Dame Over/Under Pick
- Over 148.5 (3 Units)
The over 148.5 feels like the right call because Notre Dame has already shown it can push the pace and score in bunches, with Markus Burton running the offense and Cole Certa stretching defenses from deep. Detroit Mercy, while overmatched, still has capable scorers in Orlando Lovejoy and Ayden Carter who can keep the Titans from being completely shut down. Both teams played high-possession openers, and with Notre Dame’s depth and rebounding creating second-chance looks, this matchup sets up for a fast tempo and enough offensive production on both sides to clear the total.
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