Simulation Picks
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Understanding Public and Money
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Expert Picks
On the surface, Louisville should be troubled Monday by Syracuse. The visitors, as a rule, do not shoot well, and the Orange’s zone defense is legendary. Yet, the zone is ailing this season, with a No. 108 ranking for defensive efficiency. Meantime, the Cardinals lay claim to the second most efficient offense versus zones at nearly 1.2 points per possession. Syracuse rebounds shoddily at times, and only four foes have outboarded Louisville. The Cards have won three of the past five straight-up in upstate New York.
Syracuse had won and covered five straight before losing Saturday at Pittsburgh. Louisville comes off a home win against Miami, but failed to cover after trailing much of the way. Louisville's previous road game was Virginia, where it lost 71-55 while getting +6 and missing four key players. The Cardinals’ other road losses are to Florida State and Notre Dame. The question becomes whether Syracuse's current form is as good as the teams that beat Louisville -- and I don't think it is. There looks to be up to three points of value with the road team here.
The return of guard Quentin Snider is a boost for Louisville. It won't be easy winning at Syracuse, which has not lost at home in nearly two months. But in my simulations, Louisville is winning this one 69 percent of the time. Back the Cardinals on the money line in this critical ACC matchup.