The Louisville Cardinals (4-0) play the Saint Louis Billikens (4-0) at the Barclays Center. Action begins at 8:00 pm ET on Saturday, Nov. 28 and can be seen on ES3.
The Cardinals come into this game on a high note after blowing out St. Francis Brooklyn 85-41 on Tuesday. Damion Lee was the game’s leading scorer with 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting. The Billikens, meanwhile, are coming off a 70-57 win over North Florida on Tuesday. Ash Yacoubou claimed his second double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
This one isn’t expected to be close when Louisville, a heavy 14-point favorite, takes on Saint Louis. The teams combine to set the Over/Under (O/U) at 134 points. The Cardinals come into this game unbeaten with a 4-0 record Straight Up (SU) and 1-0 Against The Spread (ATS). The rebounding edge goes to the Cardinals in this matchup, who are one of the top rebounding teams in the nation with an average of 48.5 boards per game. Louisville is one of the most disciplined teams in the nation with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.74. Opposing teams know they’re in for a battle when they play Louisville’s stingy defense. The Cardinals are one of the top teams when it comes to defense, allowing just 49.8 points per game. Louisville’s defense can be considered for best in the country, allowing a Division I-best .292 opponent field-goal percentage. The Cardinals are the 33rd-best team in the country at blocking shots, averaging 5.8 blocks per game.
As for their opponent, the Billikens are clearly doing something right with a 4-0 record SU and 1-0 ATS so far.
Louisville and Saint Louis have not played one another in a regular season matchup in recent years.
Predictions: SU Winner – Lou, ATS Winner – Lou, O/U – Under
Notes
Louisville is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Saint Louis.
Louisville is one of the highest-scoring teams in the nation, averaging 86.8 points per game (ranked 22nd). Saint Louis allows 61.2 points per game (ranked 34th).
The Louisville Cardinals rank sixth for their offensive rating of 128.6. The Saint Louis Billikens have a defensive rating of 87.7 (ranked 28th).
The Saint Louis Billikens average 70.3 possessions per game and 1.070 points per possession. The Louisville Cardinals earn fewer possessions with 67.5, but they score more points with 1.286.
Louisville ranks 65th in assists, recording 16.5 per game. Saint Louis ranks 91st with 15.5 assists per game.
Louisville, the 33rd-ranked team in blocked shots, records an average of 5.8 per game. Saint Louis does worse, ranked 191st with 3.2.
Louisville is one of the best teams in the country when it comes to offensive rebounds, ranking eighth. Saint Louis ranks 64th in defensive rebounds.
The Saint Louis Billikens average 5.0 steals per game. The Louisville Cardinals are undefeated with a 2-0 record when they give up at least 5 steals.
