Friars vs Cardinals CBB Basketball Spread/Handicapping
The Friars are not starting their Big East season from a good place. They have lost their last two games to Boston College and Brown. Both losses were on the road which is where they will be again, unfortunately it is as Louisville the 4th ranked team in the country.
Wednesday January 2
KFC Yum Center – Louisville, KY
6:00PM
Moneyline: No ML currently listed
Spread: Louisville -18 at GTBets
O/U: No OU line currently listed
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Providence
Providence has won 2 of their last 3 against Louisville but both those victories were at home including an expected blow out last year when they won 90-59.
There is probably more talent than you think at Providence. Guard Bryce Cotton is averaging 22 points per game but he is questionable for Wednesday night.
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The Friars also have two other players averaging more than 16 yards per game in Ladentae Hutton and Kadeem Betts; and they still have guard Victor Council who was the Big East`s leading returning scorer coming into this season but has struggled so far this year.
Providence`s last two road games have been disappointments losing as favourites, perhaps being in an underdog role will suit them better as they are expected to get pummelled in this one. Providence is a good defensive team and I think that against Louisville and the Cardinals sometimes inefficient offense will make this closer than expected.
Louisville
Louisville exorcised some demons by beating Kentucky over the weekend. They enter this contest on a 7 game winning streak and are looking to prove that preseason expectations are justified with a strong Big East season. [ad-6571516]
They are just 3-4 ATS this season against the spread and this number is pretty big.
The Cardinals have covered 5 times as a double digit favourite already this season.
This game will feature good guard play. The Cardinals combination of Russ Smith and Peyton Siva are short but they are productive. Smith leads the team with just under 20ppg and Siva is second while leading the team in assists. Up front they got center Gorgui Dieng back from injury against Kentucky.
He can be a difference maker swatting shots but might not be as much of a factor given their perimeter oriented attack.
In a close game Louisville is hard to beat. Their guards are tough and they play good defense. They are talented but I don`t like counting on them to dominate and smother an opponent and also make a ton of shots. Smith is a great shotmaker but is a high volume scorer who can be off.
When he is the team is not much better than average offensively.
Spread Pick; Providence +18
O/U Pick: NA
Score Prediction: Louisville 72 – Providence 62
