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NCAA Tourney Picks: Louisville vs. Tennessee

by Alexander Banks on Thursday, March 27th, 2008

The best matchup of the Sweet Sixteen could be the game on Thursday night with second seeded Tennessee taking on third seeded Louisville. Tennessee advanced to the regional semifinals with a 72-57 victory over No. 15 American on Friday and then a 76-71 overtime win over No. 7 Butler on Sunday. Tennessee is making its fifth appearance in the Sweet 16 and its second in as many years. The Volunteers are 0-4 in regional semifinal games, including an 85-84 loss to Ohio State last season. It is the 16th appearance in the NCAA Tournament for Tennessee, including their third in a row. Tennessee is 13-16 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. They will face a tough test against a very talented Louisville team. "Louisville will be, like Memphis, the most talented team we play.” Tennessee head coach Bruce Pearl said, “Frontline depth, backcourt depth. They will press us, which doesn't happen often. They will mix in some zone. Louisville has been thought to be a Final Four caliber team. This region looks like a Final Four field. All the top seeds have advanced." SBG Global reports that early NCAA Basketball betting has the public taking Tennessee at Home.

NCAA Tourney Betting Preview
Louisville (26-8) vs. Tennessee (31-4)
Thursday, 9:55 pm Eastern – CBS

SBG Global Opening Line: Louisville - 2.5 , Total 146

Tennessee’s 31 wins this season are the most in school history. Tennessee’s schedule was ranked as the most difficult in the nation. Louisville leads the all-time series with Tennessee 11-7. The Cardinals have won the last four meetings, including an 85-62 victory Jan. 22, 2005 in Louisville. Three of the last four meetings have been decided by three points or less. This is the second time the Vols and Cards have met in the NCAA Tournament. Louisville won 70-57 win in the second round of the 1983 Mideast Region in Evansville, Indiana.

SBG Global Current Line: Louisville - 3 , Total 146

Louisville has reached the Sweet Sixteen for the 16th occasion with a pair of victories in the East Region. They defeated Boise State 79-61 and Oklahoma 78-48. Only four teams have been to more Sweet Sixteen’s than Louisville. (North Carolina 22, Kentucky 20, Duke 19 and UCLA 17; Kansas also has 16). The Cardinals improved to 8-3 as the third seed in NCAA Tournament play. Louisville has reached one Final Four (‘82) and two additional Sweet 16s in its previous three tournament trips as the No. 3 seed. Louisville is 1-3 when facing No. 2 seeds in the NCAA Tournament. Louisville has an 11-9 record in regional semifinal games, winning its last two. Louisville has won at least 20 games for the last six seasons. The Cardinals have won 11 of their last 13 games by an average margin of 12.1 points per game. Louisville has averaged 73.6 points and 8.7 steals while hitting 48.8 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from the three-point line during that time. Louisville is 22-1 when shooting better from the field than its opponent this season and 10-0 when shooting 50 percent or better from the field. Coach Rick Pitino has a 34-11 record in NCAA Tournament play (.756), ranking him third among active coaches in winning percentage and 11th all time.

Here are the NCAA Basketball betting stats for Thursday’s game. The Cardinals are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 non-conference games. The Cardinals are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite. The Cardinals are 10-2-1 ATS in their last 13 games vs. a team with a winning record. The Cardinals are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games as a favorite. The Cardinals are 17-5-1 ATS in their last 23 games overall. The Cardinals are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 NCAA Tournament games.

The Volunteers are 22-7 ATS in their last 29 games as an underdog. The Volunteers are 15-7-1 ATS in their last 23 non-conference games. The Volunteers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 neutral site games as an underdog. The Volunteers are 8-21-1 ATS in their last 30 neutral site games. The Volunteers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 vs. the Big East.

The Under is 4-1-1 in the Cardinals last 6 non-conference games. The Under is 10-3 in the Cardinals last 13 vs. the SEC. The Over is 8-3 in the Cardinals last 11 Thursday games.

The Under is 5-0 in the Volunteers last 5 vs. the Big East. The Under is 4-1 in the Volunteers last 5 non-conference games. The Over is 4-1 in the Volunteers last 5 neutral site games as an underdog. The Over is 13-5 in the Volunteers last 18 neutral site games.