Offense meets defense when the No. 14 North Carolina Tar Heels (20-7, 9-5 ACC) visit Louisville to take on the Cardinals (18-8, 8-5 ACC). Louisville opened as a 1.5-point favorite, while the Over/Under (O/U) for the game has been set at 156 points. Tip-off is set for 8:15 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 17, 2018, and it can be seen on ESPN.
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Louisville Cardinals Free Preview
The last time the Tar Heels played, they were victorious over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 83-66. With 16 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, Theo Pinson put together a good game for North Carolina. North Carolina dominated every stat category in the game. They had an extraordinary offensive rebounding percentage of 38.7 (above their season average of 38.7) and an effective field goal percentage of 0.583 (above their season average of 0.527). For those same stats, Notre Dame was 25.0 and 0.466, respectively.
The Cardinals will look to maintain momentum after thoroughly outplaying the Pittsburgh Panthers in their last game, 94-60. Louisville’s Anas Mahmoud played well, contributing 14 points and five rebounds. Louisville played a nearly flawless game. They had a ridiculous effective field goal percentage of 0.722 (above their season average of 0.519) and a turnover percentage of 11.2 (better than their season average of 14.8). Pittsburgh had marks of 0.405 and 16.4, respectively, for those same stats.
Louisville should be expected to protect the ball well in this contest. Louisville ranks 52nd in the NCAA at avoiding errors (turnover percentage of 16.8 percent), while North Carolina forces the 40th-fewest turnovers (16.4 percent). Furthermore, the Tar Heels rank 24th in offensive efficiency (115.3), while the Cardinals rank 22nd in defensive efficiency (96.3).
Cameron Johnson has really been playing well over the last five games for North Carolina, averaging 17.8 points per game.
This is the first time these teams will clash this year, after the Tar Heels won the only contest last season, 74-63. The Tar Heels played a nearly perfect game. They had a fantastic free throw rate of 0.339 and a phenomenal offensive rebounding percentage of 39.0. The Cardinals put up marks of 0.066 and 21.1, respectively, for those same stats.
North Carolina Tar Heels at Louisville Cardinals Free Prediction
Free Prediction: SU Winner – Louisville, ATS Winner – North Carolina, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- The Cardinals rank 120th in three pointers allowed per game (21.1) while the Tar Heels rank 284th (26.6).
- Louisville ranks 37th in steals per game (7.5) while North Carolina ranks 189th (5.3).
- North Carolina ranks first in rebounds per game (43.3) while Louisville ranks 239th in rebounds allowed per game (37.4).
- The Cardinals rank 17th in assists allowed per game (10.5) while the Tar Heels rank 232nd (15.3).
- Louisville ranks third in blocks per game (6.5) while North Carolina ranks 187th in blocks allowed per game (4.6).
Betting Trends:
- The Cardinals average margin of victory in their last five games has been 7.6, down from 9.2 for the season.
- During their last five games, the Tar Heels have scored an average of 87.0 points per game (3.7 above their season average) and allowed an average of 76.0 points per game (2.7 above their season average).
