Louisville Cardinals (4-25) vs Virginia Tech Hokies (16-13)
Game Info: Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 9:00 pm (KFC Yum! Center)
Betting Odds: Louisville Cardinals +10.5 -- Over/Under: 146.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The Louisville Cardinals will host the Virginia Tech Hokies in conference action from the KFC Yum! Center on the ACC Network. Louisville leads the all-time series, 36-9, but Tech did win last year’s meeting by thirty-two points.
Virginia Tech fell to 16-13 after losing to Duke in Durham. The Hokies trailed the Blue Devils early, and they’d up taking a 16-point loss, 81-65. Virginia Tech scores 74.2 points per game, while allowing 69.9 ppg, and shooting 47.1% from the floor.
Virginia Tech’s regression this season has been tough to see, and they’ll look to avoid a third straight loss here to last placed Louisville. The Hokies are 6-12 in ACC play, with a 1-9 road record. The Hokies are led by the front court pairing of Grant Basile and Justyn Mutts. Basile leads Tech in scoring after 33 points in back-to-back 33-point outings at the top of the month at 16.5 ppg, while grabbing 5.4 rpg. Mutts double-doubled against GT last week, and he’s posting a nice line of 13.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 4.9 apg. Second-year guard Sean Pedulla scored 20 points against arch rival UVA, and he’s up to 15.3 ppg.
Louisville moved to 4-25 after losing to Georgia Tech in Atlanta. The Cardinals trailed by double figures at the break, and the Jackets kept it going to hand them a 14-point loss, 83-67. Louisville is scoring 64.5 points per game, while allowing 75.8 ppg, and shooting 42.2% from the field.
Louisville effectively played spoiler last time, but they’ll face a tough time doubling down against a hungry Duke team. The Cardinals are 2-16 in ACC play, with a 4-12 home record. Senior guard El Ellis has popped onto NBA Draft radars this month, scoring 21 points or more in five of the last seven games, and he leads the team in scoring (18.0) and assists (4.6). Freshman swingman Mike James scored 14 points last time out versus GT, and he’s second on the team at 9.5 ppg.
Virginia Tech is 11-16 against the spread this season, with a 17-9-1 over/under record. Louisville is 12-16 ATS this year, with a 13-14-1 o/u record.
Virginia Tech has the firepower to cover here on the road, but do they have the willpower? This Hokies team has underwhelmed during conference play, and it’s hard to trust them covering a double digit margin on the road at this point in the season. Spot Louisville the points at home for their home finale Tuesday night.
Corey’s Pick Louisville +10.5
AUTHOR: Corey Ghee
Mitch's Take...
