Louisville at Pittsburgh College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/9/2019

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Petersen Events Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Louisville Cardinals head to Petersen Events Center to take on the Pittsburgh Panthers on Wednesday, January 9, 2019. The opening line for this game has Louisville as 1 point favorites.

Louisville comes into this game with an overall record of 10-4. They currently have a point differential of 10.4 as they are averaging 79.4 points per game while giving up 69.0 per contest. Pittsburgh has an overall mark of 10-4. They are averaging 76.1 points per contest and giving up 63.9, which is a point differential of 12.3.

Valuable Louisville Cardinals Betting Trends

The Louisville Cardinals are 6-6-2 against the spread this season

The Louisville Cardinals are 7-7-0 against the over/under this year

Important Pittsburgh Panthers Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Panthers are 10-4-0 against the spread this season

The Pittsburgh Panthers are 5-9-0 against the over/under this year

Key Louisville Cardinals Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Pittsburgh Panthers Injuries

12/14/18 C Peace Ilegomah Transferred is out for season
01/05/19 G Sidy N'Dir Leg is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Jordan Nwora comes into this game averaging 17.9 points per contest while playing 30.4 minutes per night this year. He grabs 8.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.1 assists per game. His FG percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is 75%. Christen Cunningham averages 9.7 points per contest in 26.7 minutes per game. He averages 3.3 assists per game and 1.8 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 46% for the season while his free throw percentage is 72%.

Player Spotlight

Xavier Johnson scores 16.1 points per contest while playing 27.7 minutes per game. He hauls in 3.6 rebounds per contest and has 4.8 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 84%. Trey McGowens averages 12.4 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 26.4 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.3 rebounds per game and has 1.6 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 79%.

Useful Team Statistics

Louisville averages 79.4 points per contest, which is 64th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 10.4 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 166th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 117th in the nation. They average 37.8 boards per contest and 13.1 assists per game, which ranks them 98th and 224th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 283rd with 12.0 per game. The Cardinals allow 69.0 points per contest, which is 119th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 42% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 110th and 234th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 31.8 rebounds a game which ranks 47th, and they allow 11.6 assists per game which puts them in 80th place in the country. They force 11.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 46th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Pittsburgh is 127th in the nation with 76.1 points per contest this season. They are 167th in the country in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 12.3. They shoot 33% from beyond the arc, which is good for 237th in the NCAA. They are 57th in D-1 in rebounding with 39.1 boards per contest and 207th in assists per game with 13.4. The Panthers are 110th in turnovers per contest with 14.3. The Panthers give up 63.9 points per game, which ranks them 33rd in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 38% shooting percentage and a 29% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 11th and 20th in those defensive statistics. They rank 173rd with 13.0 dimes allowed per game and 255th with 36.7 boards surrendered per contest. The Panthers are 324th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 17.2 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Cardinals are 38th in the nation in offensive rating with 113.1. In terms of pace they are 260th in the country with 68.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 133rd. As a team they are 48th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shots, ranking 97th in Division 1. Louisville is 275th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.9 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Pittsburgh is 117th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.2 times per 100 possessions. The Panthers have an offensive rating of 105.4, which is ranked 154th. They are 102nd in D-1 in pace with 72.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 202nd. As a unit they are 153rd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 261st in the country.

Who will win tonight's Louisville/Pittsburgh college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Louisville -1

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