Louisville Looks to Tie North Carolina Atop ACC Standings

On Wednesday, the college basketball calendar has an important ACC showdown, when the No. 6 ranked Louisville Cardinals visit the No. 8 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. The current line has North Carolina favored by 5.5 points with the over/under point total on 155.

Entering this game, Louisville has an overall record of 22-5 straight up and 16-8 against the spread. On the road, the Cardinals are 5-3 SU and 4-2 ATS. North Carolina on the season is 23-5 SU and 14-12 ATS. At home, the Tar Heels are 14-0 SU and 9-4 ATS.

North Carolina is leading the ACC with a conference record of 11-3, but is only one game in front of both Louisville and Duke at 10-4. North Carolina has won two consecutive games including a 65-41 rout of Virginia.

Louisville enters this game having won three consecutive and six of its past seven. The only loss for the Cardinals during that stretch was to Virginia by 16 points. On Saturday, the Cardinals defeated Virginia Tech by 4 points.

The two teams are meeting for the first time this season. Last season Louisville defeated North Carolina in their only head to head game 71-65.

Quentin Snider has returned from an injury to give Louisville a boost on offense averaging over 15 points per game in his three games back. Snider scored 19 in Louisville’s 94-90 defeat of Virginia Tech.

Louisville was led in that game by the 26 points of Donovan Mitchell, who leads the team in scoring. Louisville loves to create turnovers and is No. 17 in the nation with a turnover margin of +3.5.

North Carolina’s defense came up big on Saturday allowing just 41 points to a struggling Virginia team. In the win, Justin Jackson led the Tar Heels with 20 points, while teammate Kennedy Meeks scored 13.

North Carolina is led in scoring by Jackson with an average of 18.5 points per game. Joel Berry II is second in scoring for the Tar Heels at 14.5 points per game.

North Carolina leads the country in rebounding margin with +13.3. However, Louisville has the size to rebound with North Carolina.

Louisville is 4-1-1 ATS in its past 6 games on the road.

North Carolina is 4-1 ATS in its past 5 games played at home.

Prediction: Louisville is playing very well at the moment and can stay with North Carolina on the boards. Look for a wide open but close game. Lean here toward the Cardinals.