The No. 1 Louisville Cardinals (8-0, 1-0 ACC) look to remain undefeated when they challenge the Pittsburgh Panthers (7-2, 1-0 ACC) at KFC Yum! Center. The game can be seen on ACC Network at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, December 6, 2019.
The Over/Under (O/U) for the game has been set at 125 points with Louisville opening as a 15-point favorite.
Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Louisville Cardinals Betting Prediction
The Panthers will be looking for a similar result after comfortably covering the 2.5-point spread against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in their last game, 71-60. The game’s total points (131) came in just over the O/U total of 128.5. The Panthers knocked down 12 of their 17 free throws (70.6 percent), while the Scarlet Knights had a turnover percentage of 23.7 (above their season average of 16.5). With 20 points on 8-for-14 shooting, Xavier Johnson was the top scorer from either team.
In the Cardinals’ previous game, they were victorious over the No. 4 Michigan Wolverines, 58-43, easily covering as 6-point favorites. The total points for the game (101) were well under the projected point total of 137.5. The Cardinals held the Wolverines to an effective field goal percentage of 0.284 (below their season average of 0.614) and an offensive rebounding percentage of 19.6 (below the 27.0 mark opponents have averaged against Louisville this season). Jordan Nwora was the top scorer from either team with 22 points on 9-for-23 shooting from the field.
These two teams split two games last season. The Cardinals won the most recent matchup 66-51. The Cardinals knocked down 14 of their 16 free throws (87.5 percent) and had a much better turnover percentage (16.0 vs. 22.2).
Pittsburgh comes into the contest with records of 7-2 straight up (SU) and 6-3 against the spread (ATS). Of the Panthers’ nine games, five have finished under the O/U total.
Meanwhile, Louisville is 8-0 SU and 4-4 ATS. Vegas has been spot on when predicting totals of Cardinals games, with an even split between overs and unders.
Louisville could have their way on the defensive side of the ball as they square off against one of the worst offenses in the nation. The Cardinals rank 29th in effective field goal percentage allowed (0.456), while Pittsburgh is 301st in effective field goal percentage (0.475) since the 2018-19 season.
Pittsburgh vs. Louisville ATS Pick
Prediction: ATS Winner – Louisville, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
Louisville ranks 42nd in rebounds per game (38.6) while Pittsburgh ranks 228th in rebounds allowed per game (36.4).
The Panthers rank 107th in steals per game (6.9) while the Cardinals rank 281st (4.5).
Louisville ranks 74th in three pointers attempted per game (24.4) while Pittsburgh ranks 241st (20.0).
The Cardinals rank 42nd in assists allowed per game (11.0) while the Panthers rank 188th (13.3).
Louisville ranks 109th in blocks allowed per game (3.2) while Pittsburgh ranks 237th (4.9).
