Louisville vs NC State Prediction, Odds and Picks Dec. 22
It was just seven years ago when Louisville and North Carolina State were meeting with a chance to reach the Elite Eight in the 2015 NCAA tournament. Unfortunately, the way things are going, it could be a while before that happens again.
They are two of the four teams still winless in ACC play. North Carolina State lost its two ACC games by 15 points, while Louisville lost to Miami by 27 points and to Florida State by 22 points.
North Carolina State leads the ACC in scoring margin (+13.15), while Louisville is last (-12.08). However, Louisville has played three ranked teams compared to just one for North Carolina State.
According to the college basketball odds, North Carolina State (+8000) is tied for 11th in the odds to win the ACC title, with Louisville (+25000) tied for 14th.
Let’s check the latest college basketball odds, stats, injury reports and college basketball lines for Louisville vs North Carolina State. We’ve plenty of NCAA basketball odds for you to consider.
Cardinals Struggling to Take Flight
Louisville opened the season with losses to Bellarmine, Wright State, and Appalachian State, having nine straight losses before El Ellis had a career-high 30 points in a win over Western Kentucky. That was followed by a victory in a matchup with Florida A&M.
Ellis went from averaging 8.7 points and 1.6 assists in 20.5 minutes per game a season ago to putting up 17.3 points and 4.5 assists in 34.9 minutes. He needs some help, as he is the lone double-digit scorer.
Each of the top 11 Louisville scorers has more turnovers than assists and ball security has been an issue.
Five of Louisville’s last six games went under the Las Vegas odds total.
Transfers Delivering for NC State
The focus is understandably on sophomore Terquavion Smith, the Wolfpack‘s leading scorer. However, the arrivals of Ole Miss transfer Jarkel Joiner and D.J. Burns Jr., who transferred in from Winthrop, have offered some additional scoring threats.
Burns averaged 14.5 and 9.5 rebounds in the first two conference games.
Joyner was 0 for 12 from the field and had only one point against Pittsburgh but bounced back with 26 points on 10 of 16 shooting against Miami.
Something to consider for those who bet online: North Carolina State has won seven of its last eight home games.
Louisville vs North Carolina State Game Injuries
North Carolina snapped a three-game losing streak to Louisville with a 79-63 win on Jan. 12 as a six-point underdog on the road behind 24 points from Terquavion Smith.
The road team has won the last three games in the series.
Four of the last six games have finished under the total.
Louisville vs North Carolina State Game Information
- Game: Louisville (2-10) vs North Carolina State (10-3)
- Location: PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
- Day/Time: Thursday, Dec. 22, 7:00 p.m. ET
- Louisville vs North Carolina State Live Stream:TBS.com
Louisville vs North Carolina State Betting Lines
Louisville vs North Carolina State Picks & Prediction
Louisville’s struggles can be traced to some shooting woes, with the Cardinals shooting less than 40% from the field and 31% from 3-point range.
The Cardinals are 0-4 away from home and failed to cover in each of those games.
North Carolina State is 9-1 as the favorite, while Louisville is 1-7 when listed as the underdog.
Dusan Mahorcic, who transferred in from Utah, started nine of the 10 games he has appeared in. He is shooting 64% from the field while putting up 8.7 points and 6.6 rebounds for North Carolina State. However, he is out indefinitely with a knee injury.
Louisville sophomore forward Roosevelt Wheeler is questionable with a concussion.
The Cardinals have covered just once this season, while NC State has failed to cover in the last seven games against ACC opponents. With the way Louisville is playing, it is hard to pick the Cardinals, even against a North Carolina State team that dropped its first two conference contests.
North Carolina State Wolfpack is listed at -1790 in our Vegas college basketball lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the North Carolina StateWolfpack, you have a chance to win $6. Louisville is +955, offering a chance to win $955 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives North Carolina State Wolfpack a 94.71% chance to win, with Louisville at 9.48%.
