Syracuse vs. Notre Dame Prediction, Betting Pick, Latest College Lacrosse Odds for NCAA Tournament Semifinal
The Duke Blue Devils will battle the Princeton Tigers on Saturday afternoon in the NCAA Lacrosse Semifinal in Charlottesville, VA. Can Duke stay hot on ACC Turf and surprise the top-seeded Tigers? Let's take a look at this Duke vs. Princeton prediction and best bet for Saturday, May 23rd.
Peter Alexis - May 23, 2026, 9:30 AM EDT
4 Minute ReadSyracuse vs. Notre Dame Prediction: Can Irish Return to Championship Game for Third Time in Four Years With Win over Cuse in Semi's?
Notre Dame and Syracuse meet Saturday, May 23, at 2:30 p.m. ET at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia, with a spot in the national championship game on the line. Notre Dame is the No. 2 seed, a -230 moneyline favorite, and has won two of the last three national titles, while Syracuse enters as a +200 underdog after taking down North Carolina in the quarterfinals.
The total is 23.5 goals, and the best bet is under. These teams already played at Notre Dame in late April, with the Irish winning 16-11, but the rematch should be tighter defensively with a title-game spot at stake and both staffs getting another look at the matchup.
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Notre Dame vs. Syracuse NCAA Lacrosse Odds
- Spread: Notre Dame -2.5 (+110), Syracuse +2.5 (-125)
- Moneyline: Notre Dame (-320), Syracuse (+190)
- Total: Over 23.5 (-110), Under 23.5 (-110)
Notre Dame vs. Syracuse Date, Time, and Where to Watch NCAA Lacrosse Tournament Semifinal
- Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026
- Time: 2:30 PM ET
- Where to Watch: ESPNU
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Notre Dame vs. Syracuse Prediction - NCAA Lacrosse Tournament
Notre Dame has looked like a championship-level team again. The Irish beat Johns Hopkins 15-9 in the quarterfinals, pulling away after halftime and holding the Blue Jays to just three second-half goals. Josh Yago led the offense with four goals and three assists, Matt Jeffery added five points, and Tyler Spano controlled possession with a dominant faceoff performance. That balance is why Notre Dame deserves to be favored, but the defensive adjustment is the key to this total. The Irish do not need to race Syracuse to 16 again if they can turn this into a more controlled semifinal.
Syracuse earned this spot by beating North Carolina 13-11 in the quarterfinals, overcoming an early deficit and closing stronger than a Tar Heels team that had already beaten the Orange twice this season. That win gives Syracuse real confidence, especially after finding revenge in a third meeting. Still, Notre Dame is a different challenge. The Irish already scored 16 on the Orange in April, and Syracuse has had defensive and goaltending concerns throughout the season. For the Orange to win outright, they need Joey Spallina and the offense to produce, but they also need the defense to force this into longer possessions and keep Notre Dame out of transition.
Notre Dame vs. Syracuse Betting Outlook
The first meeting finished with 27 goals, but semifinal rematches often tighten up. Notre Dame has the defensive profile to slow this down, and Syracuse should be more cautious after getting burned by a 16-goal Irish performance the first time around. Both teams know the shooting tendencies, clearing pressure, and matchup problems better now, which should create fewer easy goals than the April meeting.
Notre Dame vs. Syracuse Best Bet
- Pick: Under 23.5 Goals (-115) Check out the best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
The best bet is under 23.5 total goals. Notre Dame is the more likely winner and has the stronger championship profile, but the total is the cleaner angle. Expect both defenses to adjust, possessions to become more valuable, and the game to settle closer to a 12-9 type score than another 16-11 shootout.
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