Louisville at North Carolina College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/12/2019

Saturday, January 12, 2019

Dean Smith Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Louisville Cardinals head to Dean Smith Center to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday, January 12, 2019. The opening line for this game has North Carolina as 12 point favorites.

Louisville heads into this matchup with a mark of 10-5. They currently have a point differential of 9.5 as they are averaging 79.8 points per contest while giving up 70.3 per game. North Carolina has an overall mark of 12-3. They are averaging 89.9 points per contest and giving up 72.8, which is a point differential of 17.1.

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 North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Trends

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 8-4-2 against the spread this season

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 8-6-0 against the over/under this year

Key Louisville Cardinals Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key North Carolina Tar Heels Injuries

01/11/19 G Cameron Johnson Cramps left last game, is probable Saturday vs Louisville
01/11/19 F Sterling Manley Knee is questionable Saturday vs Louisville

Player Spotlight

Jordan Nwora comes into this game averaging 17.3 points per contest while playing 31.0 minutes per night this year. He grabs 8.3 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.3 assists per game. His FG percentage is 51% while his free throw percentage is 74%. Christen Cunningham averages 10.6 points per contest in 27.7 minutes per game. He averages 3.4 assists per game and 1.8 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 50% for the season while his free throw percentage is 74%.

Player Spotlight

Cameron Johnson scores 16.2 points per contest while playing 27.2 minutes per game. He hauls in 5.8 rebounds per contest and has 2.0 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is at 81%. Luke Maye averages 14.8 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 28.9 minutes per game. He also brings in 9.9 rebounds per game and has 2.0 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 81%.

Useful Team Statistics

Louisville averages 79.8 points per contest, which is 58th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 9.5 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 162nd. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 145th in the nation. They average 38.0 boards per contest and 13.3 assists per game, which ranks them 85th and 206th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 262nd with 12.4 per game. The Cardinals allow 70.3 points per contest, which is 154th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 43% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 135th and 258th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 31.7 rebounds a game which ranks 43rd, and they allow 11.8 assists per game which puts them in 83rd place in the country. They force 11.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 48th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

North Carolina is 4th in the nation with 89.9 points per contest this season. They are 63rd in the country in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 17.1. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 63rd in the NCAA. They are 1st in D-1 in rebounding with 45.5 boards per contest and 3rd in assists per game with 19.7. The Tar Heels are 98th in turnovers per contest with 14.5. The Tar Heels give up 72.8 points per game, which ranks them 216th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 41% shooting percentage and a 31% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 62nd and 68th in those defensive statistics. They rank 225th with 13.7 dimes allowed per game and 124th with 34.0 boards surrendered per contest. The Tar Heels are 291st in the nation in forcing turnovers with 15.7 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Cardinals are 44th in the nation in offensive rating with 112.5. In terms of pace they are 243rd in the country with 69.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 143rd. As a team they are 59th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shots, ranking 94th in Division 1. Louisville is 258th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.2 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

North Carolina is 237th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.5 times per 100 possessions. The Tar Heels are 33rd in the country in offensive rating with 113.6. In terms of pace they are 5th in Division 1 with 79.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 82nd. As a team they are 69th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 298th in the nation.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Louisville +12

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