Saturday college Basketball and we will see the Miami Hurricanes travel to the KFC Yum! Center to take on the Louisville Cardinals. The game has a start time of 2:00 pm (Eastern) and will be televised on ESPN. Current Vegas betting odds have Louisville listed as 8 point favorites, while the total is set at 125.5.
Analysis: The Miami Hurricanes come in having won their last 2 games, but it should be noted that that was vs Boston College and Virginia Tech and prior to their win streak they had won just 1 of 5 games. The Canes are now 17-9 overall, including 7-6 within the ACC and 5-3 in true road games. Miami has gone 11-4-1 ATS in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600, but just 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win. The Hurricanes have been a rather average offensive team this year, ranking 156th in scoring (68.5 ppg), 179th in shooting (43.5%), 94th in 3 point shooting (36.2%) and 60th in FT shooting (72.5%). Defensively Miami has been decent as they come in ranked 100th in points allowed (63.3 ppg), 156th in defensive FG% (42.5%) and 138th in 3 point defense (33.1%).
The Louisville Cardinals come in off back to back looses to NC state and Syracuse, with both losses being by 9+ points. The losses have dropped them 20-6 overall and 8-5 in the ACC, while they have gone 13-3 at home so far this year. The Cardinals have gone 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600, but just 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 home games. Louisville has been a good offensive team, as they come in ranked 84th in scoring (71.1 ppg), 186th in shooting (43.4%), 316th in 3 point shooting (30.5%) and 247th in FT shooting (67.1%). Defensively the Cardinals have been excellent, ranking 22nd in points allowed (59.4 ppg),139th in defensive FG% (37.9%) and 13th in 3 point defense (29.1%).
Pick: Going to look at the Over in this one. Both teams play at a medium pace and both teams are more than capable of hitting the mid 60s in this one. Miami has averaged a solid 73.5 ppg on the road, while the Cards have put up 69.5 ppg a home so far. Louisville has allowed just 54.4 ppg overall at home, but they have given up 63.2 in their last 5 ACC games at home, while Miami has struggled on defense on the road, allowing 70.1 ppg. The Over is 12-3-2 in Miami's last 17 road games and I see that continuing here.
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