Cardinals vs Orange NCAAB Handicapping Prediction
Syracuse (29-1) has already won the Big East and they have a good shot to get a top seed in the NCAA tournament, but if they lose this home game facing Louisville (22-8) that may be in jeopardy.
Venue/ Stadium: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY
Time/Date: 4 PM EST Saturday, March 3, 2012
NCAA Odds From: Bovada
Moneyline: OFF
Spread (ATS): Baylor -1.5
Over/Under: 143
No 18 Louisville Cardinals vs. No. 2 Syracuse Orange Preview
Earlier this season at Louisville Syracuse clipped the Cardinals with a 1-point win.
In their last games Syracuse beat UCONN 71-68 while Louisville was upset at home losing to South Florida 58-51.
This season Louisville is 14-12-1 ATS with an O/U record of 13-14 and Syracuse is 16-13 ATS with an O/U record of 13-15.
The Cardinals will make the Big Dance, but they have lost 2 of their last 3 games and their seed in the tourney can vastly improve if they can score a HUGE away upset against 2nd ranked Syracuse.
Cuse has a very well balanced team with the likes of F Kris Joseph (14.2 ppg 5 rpg) and G Dion Waiters (11.9 ppg) and the frontcourt duo of 7′ C Fab Melo (7.9 ppg 5.7 rpg) and F C.J. Fair (9.2 ppg 5.6 rpg). The Orange have a higher scoring team, but the Cardinals are better on the glass and Melo and Fair are key players, as if they can play good D inside and now allow Louisville to beat them on the glass they may have no problem winning this Big east game. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Louisville’s offense has struggled in their last few games and if that continues they will have to rely on their defense, which ranks 58th in the nation in opponents’ points allowed, in order to win.
The Cardinals top 2 scorers are G/F Kyle Kuric (13.1 ppg) and G Russ Smith (12.2 ppg) and Smith was 0-8 from the floor in Louisville’s last loss to South Florida.
6’11” C Gorgui Dieng (9.6 ppg 9 rpg) and Chane Behanan (9.3 ppg 7.6 rpg) have to man up on the boards and if they can pull down some offensive boards and give the Cardinals some easy buckets in the paint they have a legit chance to pull off an upset.
In some betting match ups for this Big East season finale Louisville is 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall, 9-4 ATS in their last 13 road games, and they have an Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 games.
Syracuse is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games, 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall, and they have an Under record of 7-1 in their last 8 games.
Jason’s Pick: Louisville is 7-0-1 ATS in their last 8 games facing Syracuse and I think that trend will continue. While the Cardinals may not win this game they will keep it close and, at least, cover the spread.
