The Louisville Cardinals weren’t particularly impressive in the non-conference season, but they have turned it on since the beginning of ACC play. They are tied for first place in the conference but it won’t be easy to stay there as there are myriad powerful opponents coming up. Louisville has a big game next time out when it hosts the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Louisville beat UNC in Chapel Hill earlier this season and there is no doubt the Tar Heels are aiming to exact revenge. The Tar Heels have a slightly more impressive resume this season but will be in a hostile environment.
The oddsmakers are projecting that this game is a virtual toss-up, so it will be interesting to see which team comes out on top in NCAA basketball gambling.
This NCAA basketball game between the Louisville Cardinals and North Carolina Tar Heels will be held at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 2nd, 2019. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
We'll have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2019 NCAA basketball season.
Odds Analysis
The Tar Heels have a record of 16-4 on the season. They have won six of their seven games in conference, with the loss to Louisville the lone blemish. North Carolina has been good on the road this season with a 6-1 record. Its only road loss came to a highly-ranked Michigan team.
Louisville is 16-5 on the year. The Cardinals are 7-1 in ACC play, tied with Duke and Virginia for the top spot, a half-game ahead of North Carolina. Louisville’s lone loss in conference play came to Pittsburgh but it has since won six consecutive games.
Previous Matchup
Louisville handed North Carolina its worst home loss of the Roy Williams era in early January, claiming an 83-62 victory. The Cardinals’ defense was dominant in the game as the Tar Heels shot just 20-of-58 from the floor and hit only three from downtown in 22 attempts.
Louisville had some nice balance in the game as Dwayne Sutton, Jordan Nwora and Steven Enoch all had 17 points apiece. The Cardinals jumped out to a nine-point lead at the half, and while North Carolina was expected to come back after intermission, Louisville kept its foot on the gas.
Player To Watch
Luke Maye -- North Carolina’s senior forward struggled in the first matchup against Louisville and has taken a step backward as a whole this season. Maye is averaging 13.9 points and 9.7 rebounds, which are decent numbers but both decreases compared to a year ago.
He will aim to show up well in this one. Maye has a ton of experience as one of the few senior standouts among the top teams and will not be rattled by the hostile environment. He had only four points on 2-of-9 shooting last time out against Georgia Tech. In a game that is expected to be hotly contested, his performance could have an outsized effect on the outcome.
Free NCAA Basketball ATS Picks
North Carolina has the type of talent to bounce back and push Louisville to the end. However, the Tar Heels do not look like one of the best teams in the country this year. The Cardinals might fall back with the rest of the pack eventually during ACC play, but look for them to secure this big home win.
Louisville is also the choice to cover the spread as it will likely be a small underdog or the slightest of favorites in NCAA basketball odds.
NCAA Basketball Pick: Louisville Cardinals 74, North Carolina Tar Heels 71
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