North Carolina vs Louisville Prediction College Basketball Picks 1/1/25

In this article, we will formulate a North Carolina vs Louisville Prediction for this college basketball game on Wednesday, January 1st, at the KFC! Yum Center. To formulate this prediction, we will examine:

-The Tar Heels’ recent form and recent player performance 

-The Cardinals’ recent form and recent player performance

-Recent Betting trends and streaks involving North Carolina

-Recent Betting trends and streaks involving Louisville

-Recent betting trends in games played between North Carolina and Louisville

-A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for Today’s Game between the Tar Heels and Cardinals. 

Louisville Getting Hot?

Louisville is trying to get hot and coming into this game they have won two straight games. Two games ago Florida State won 90-76 and in the last game against Eastern Kentucky, they ended up securing the 78-76 victory. Terrence Edwards Jr had a strong game putting up 20 points, five rebounds, and one assist. There were five different players that put up at least 12 points. Three games ago against Kentucky, they ended up losing 95-83 and that type of defense can’t happen here. Louisville on the season is averaging 78 points while their defense is giving up 71.7 points per game. The offense is ranked 126th in the league while the defense is ranked 200th. Chucky Hepburn has been the top player for Louisville, averaging 15.2 points while shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from behind the three-point line. Louisville will face Virginia and Clemson following this one.

Why Louisville Will Beat North Carolina

• Louisville has won each of its last five home games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

North Carolina Has Won Two Straight

North Carolina has been up and down to start the season but they all of a sudden have won two straight games. North Carolina faced off against UCLA two games and they won 76-74  and in the last game against Campbell, they scored 97 points on the way to the victory. Ian Jackson had a strong game putting up 26 points, five rebounds, and one assist. There were five different players that put up at least  10 points. RJ Davis also had a strong game, putting up 23 points, four rebounds, and five assists. North Carolina on the season is averaging 86.5  points while their defense is giving up 79.4 points per game. The offense is ranked 16th in the league while the defense is ranked 337th. RJ Davis is averaging 18.8 points while shooting 39.4 percent from the field. North Carolina will meet Notre Dame, SMU, NC State, and California after this game.

Why North Carolina Will Beat Louisville

• Louisville has lost each of its last eight night games against Conference opponents.
• North Carolina has won each of its last seven night games against Louisville.
• North Carolina has won the first half in six of its last seven night games against Louisville.

North Carolina vs Louisville Prediction

This game is going to be a shootout. North Carolina is an elite offensive team averaging 86.5 points and they have been able to run up the score against most teams. This Louisville defense has shown they have struggled at times,  and their defense is going to struggle again. The Louisville offense is averaging 78 points per game and they are going to have no issue running up the score also. This game will feature zero defense, and the over is going to end up cashing. Back the over.