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Louisville Cardinals vs. UCF Knights Gambling & NCAA Handicapping Prediction

Louisville vs UCF CBB Picks

The defending champs have looked ready to defend their title this season. Losses to Kentucky on the road, and North Carolina at a neutral site, show this team is not as strong as last year’s edition but they have been obliterating every one else on their schedule. [ad-4468020]

Louisville Cardinals (11-2) vs. UCF Knights (8-3)
Tuesday December 31
CFE Arena – Orlando, FL
5:00PM
Moneyline: No moneyline currently listed
Spread: Louisville -12.5
O/U: No total currently listed
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Louisville

This is the second of a three game road trip and their first conference game of the year. There is no better time for UCF to take a bite if they can.

Guard Russ Smith took heed to the fact that he needed to change his game some to improve his NBA draft stock this season. As a result his scoring is down to just 17ppg but he is leading the team in assists. PF Montrezl Harris has elevated his game as expected in his sophomore year averaging 12 points and 8 rebounds per game.

They have really needed it too because Chane Behanan has not performed up to expectations and has now been dismissed from the team.

Louisville has not been a great bet but it can be tough when you are expected to cover 20+ point spreads almost every game.

I like their defense to travel and UCF might not be quite ready for such an intense game as Louisville delivers almost every night. As long as the number is below 10 though they are a pretty good bet.
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UCF

The UCF basketball program is emerging. It might have gone unnoticed in Conference USA but they ripped off three straight seasons of 20 wins or more.

Now they are in the AAC where there are more traditional basketball powers like Louisville (at least for one season) and Connecticut and Cincinnati. They are not going to challenge for the league title but they should more than hold their own.

This game will be an indicator.

The Knights are a balanced team with 4 players averaging between 11 and 15ppg, two guards and two forwards. They lack a dominant post presence but the Cardinal don’t have great size this year so that should not be too much of an impediment. SG Isaiah Sykes is their second leading scorer and a great athlete.

Louisville like to play an intense physical brand of basketball so he and the rest of the Knights are going to have to stand up for themselves.

Less than half of the Knights games have been numbered this season so there is not a lot to go on there and these teams haven’t played each other in forever either. Last year the numbers for UCF were .500 in situations like this where they were a home dog.

Call it instinct but I think they are going to give the Cards a bit of a battle.

Spread Pick: UCF +12.5
O/U Pick: N/A
Score Prediction: Louisville 80 – UCF 71

By The Wiesguy

The Wiesguy is a newcomer to the handicapping scene. Hailing from Toronto, Canada he is always sweet on the underdogs and you can often find his thoughts, musings and picks at moneydogs.blogspot.com.