The Louisville Cardinals (10-3) can extend a five-game home winning streak when they go head-to-head against the Pittsburgh Panthers (8-6, 0-1 ACC) at KFC Yum! Center. The games Over/Under (O/U) opened at 137.5 points with Louisville set as a 16.5-point favorite. Action starts at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 2, 2018, and it can be seen on ESPNU.
Pittsburgh Panthers at Louisville Cardinals Odds Preview
In the Panthers last outing, they were beaten by the No. 15 Miami (FL) Hurricanes, 67-53. Pittsburgh’s Shamiel Stevenson put together a solid performance, leading both teams in scoring with 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting. Miami (FL) held the Panthers to an offensive rebounding percentage of 15.4 (below their season average of 26.9). Pittsburgh, on the other hand, did a great job of converting from the free throw line (11-13; 84.6 percent).
The Cardinals are hoping for a better outcome after their 90-61 loss to the No. 16 Kentucky Wildcats in their last matchup. With 12 points and 11 rebounds, Raymond Spalding had a solid outing for Louisville. Kentucky was effective at getting and making free throws. The Wildcats made 24 of their 30 free throws (80.0 percent), while the Cardinals were 10-13 (76.9 percent).
Louisville should be expected to protect the ball well in this contest. Louisville ranks 52nd in the nation at avoiding errors (turnover percentage of 16.8 percent), while Pittsburgh forces the 70th-fewest turnovers (17.5 percent). Additionally, the 252nd-ranked offense of the Panthers (offensive efficiency of 101.4) will face a tough challenge against the 47th-ranked defense of the Cardinals (defensive efficiency of 93.8).
Of Pittsburgh’s 9 games that accepted bets, eight have finished under the O/U total, while 6 of Louisville’s 11 games have finished over the O/U total. The Cardinals hold the substantial advantage straight up (SU) (10-3 vs. 8-6), but the Panthers have the superior against the spread (ATS) record (5-4 vs. 3-7-1).
This will be the first matchup of the year between these two teams, after the Cardinals won both meetings last season. In the most recent matchup, Louisville won 106-51. The Cardinals played a nearly perfect game. They had a phenomenal effective field goal percentage of 0.672 and a ridiculous offensive rebounding percentage of 43.8. For those same stats, the Panthers were 0.284 and 19.0, respectively.
Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Louisville Cardinals Odds Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Louisville, ATS Winner – Pittsburgh, O/U – Under
Betting Notes:
- The Cardinals rank 60th in steals per game (7.2) while the Panthers rank 142nd in steals allowed per game (7.1).
- Louisville averages 22.3 three pointers per game, which ranks 135th in the nation. Pittsburgh ranks 139th in three pointers allowed per game (22.3).
- Pittsburgh is 2-2 ATS on the road, while Louisville is 3-4-1 ATS at home.
- The total has gone under in 4 of the Panthers 4 road games, while 4 of the Cardinals 8 home games have gone over.
- Louisville ranks 34th in rebounds per game (40.2) while Pittsburgh ranks 174th (34.9).
- The Cardinals average 8.2 blocks per game, which ranks second in the nation. The Panthers rank 115th in blocks allowed per game (3.8).
- Louisville ranks eighth in assists allowed per game (9.8) while Pittsburgh ranks 117th (13.3).
Bettings Trends:
- Louisville is 1-3 ATS with 3 overs and 1 under in their last five games.
- Over their last five games, Pittsburgh is 2-1 ATS with 3 unders.
- The Cardinals average margin of victory in their last five games has been 8.6, down from 10.8 for the season.
- During their last five games, the Panthers have scored an average of 64.4 points per game (4.3 below their season average) and allowed an average of 62.8 points per game (5.8 below their season average).
