Virginia at Louisville Expert NCAA Basketball Picks 2/23/2019

Saturday, February 23, 2019

KFC Yum! Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Virginia Cavaliers travel to KFC Yum! Center to play the Louisville Cardinals on Saturday, February 23, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Virginia as 4.5 point favorites.

Virginia heads into this matchup with a mark of 23-2. They currently have a point differential of 17.2 as they are averaging 71.8 points per contest while giving up 54.6 per game. Louisville has an overall record of 18-9. They are averaging 76.3 points per game and surrendering 68.1, good for a point differential of 8.3.

Valuable Virginia Cavaliers Betting Trends

The Virginia Cavaliers are 18-7-0 against the spread

The Virginia Cavaliers are 11-14-0 against the over/under

Important Louisville Cardinals Betting Trends

The Louisville Cardinals are 13-12-2 against the spread

The Louisville Cardinals are 12-15-0 against the over/under

Key Virginia Cavaliers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Louisville Cardinals Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

De'Andre Hunter averages 14.8 points per game in 31.1 minutes per contest. He averages 2.1 assists per contest and 5.4 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 53% for the year while his free throw percentage is 78%. Kyle Guy comes into this contest averaging 15.4 points per game while playing 34.2 minutes per night. He pulls down 4.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is at 82%.

Player Spotlight

Dwayne Sutton averages 10.7 points per game and he sees the court an average of 32.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.8 rebounds per contest and 1.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 75%. Jordan Nwora averages 17.3 points per game while playing 31.8 minutes per contest. He grabs 7.6 rebounds per game and has 1.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 76%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Cavaliers allow 54.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 1st in Division 1. They also allow a 38% shooting percentage and a 26% average from behind the arc, ranking them 4th and 1st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 29.8 rebounds a game which ranks 9th, and they give up 8.8 assists per contest which puts them in 2nd place in the NCAA. They force 11.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 36th in the nation. Virginia averages 71.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 206th in the country. Their average scoring margin is 17.2 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 42nd. Behind the arc they shoot 40% which is good for 5th in D-1. They average 35.5 rebounds per game and 14.4 assists per contest, which ranks them 174th and 100th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 348th with 9.4 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Cardinals surrender 68.1 points per contest, which ranks them 92nd in the NCAA. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 46th and 96th in those defensive statistics. They rank 58th with 11.5 assists allowed per contest, and 139th with 34.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Cardinals are 127th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 12.7 per game. Louisville is 89th in the country with 76.3 points per game this year. They are 181st in the D-1 in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 8.3. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 120th in the nation. They are 81st in the country in rebounding with 37.3 boards per game and 153rd in assists per contest with 13.7. The Cardinals are 182nd in turnovers per game with 13.0.

Advanced Statistics

The Cavaliers are 7th in the nation in offensive rating with 116. In terms of pace they are 350th in the country with 61.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 31st. As a team they are 28th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 189th in Division 1. Virginia is 339th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.1 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Louisville is 177th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.2 times per 100 possessions. The Cardinals have an offensive rating of 108.4, which is ranked 78th. They are 197th in D-1 in pace with 69.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 123rd. As a unit they are 71st in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 43% of their shot attempts, ranking 64th in the country.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Louisville +4.5

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