Michigan (7-0) at Louisville (7-0)
When: Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019
Where: KFC Yum! Center,
Louisville, KY
Time: 7:30 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Louisville -6.5/141
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Expectations were low coming into the season for the Michigan Wolverines. After all, the team lost its top three scorers and replaced heralded coach John Beilein with an unproven first-year former Wolverine great. Michigan hasn’t lost a step under the helm of Juwan Howard, who has guided his team to a 7-0 start with some impressive wins along the way, but will now face the new No. 1 team in the country on the road in the Louisville Cardinals. The Wolverines knocked off Iowa State (83-76), No. 7 North Carolina (73-64) and ninth-ranked Gonzaga (82-64) en route to winning the Battle 4 Atlantis over the Thanksgiving holiday, and are seeking to take down three straight Top 10 opponents for the second time since 2014. Louisville is also 7-0 and will try to avoid the same fate of the three previous No. 1 ranked teams after Michigan State, Kentucky and Duke were all upset in the past three week. The Cardinals, who will host No. 5 Michigan as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Tuesday, beat Western Kentucky 71-54 on Friday to ascend to the top of the national rankings for the first time since 2013. This will be the fifth all-time meeting between the schools with the first four decided by a combined 15 points.
Michigan’s hot start can be attributed to their shooting, where they rank second nationally at 52.9 percent and 10th in 3-point percentage (42.4). Isaiah Livers helped the Wolverines win the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas by averaging 16.7 points, including a 21-point performance in the championship win over Gonzaga. Jon Teske recorded a career-high 15 rebounds and came away with the tournament’s most valuable player honor. Franz Wagner chipped in 10 points, while Zavier Simpson scored 13 points and dished out 13 assists to record his third double-double of the season. Michigan will open Big Ten play Friday versus Iowa.
Louisville is now 50-6 in the month of November since 2011 and have won 78 of its last 82 non-conference home games after the win over the Hilltoppers. Jordan Nwora was one of just two Cardinals to score in double-digits (25) while recording five rebounds and leads the team with a 21.9 per game scoring average. Dwayne Sutton was the other double-digit man with 15 points, while Malik Williams recorded nine rebounds to go along with his eight points. Louisville will host Pittsburgh on Friday.
It’s asking a lot for Michigan to pull off another upset after three grueling games in the Bahamas. The Cardinals look like the read deal and I say they avoid the curse of another No. 1 going down – at least for tonight.
Pick: Louisville -5.5
Wolverines are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
Wolverines are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 non-conference games.
Wolverines are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Wolverines are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Atlantic Coast.
Wolverines are 40-17-2 ATS in their last 59 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Wolverines are 20-9 ATS in their last 29 road games.
Wolverines are 13-6 ATS in their last 19 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Wolverines are 33-16-2 ATS in their last 51 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Cardinals are 15-5-2 ATS in their last 22 Tuesday games.
Cardinals are 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 vs. Big Ten.
Cardinals are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up win.
Cardinals are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS win.
Cardinals are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Cardinals are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Cardinals are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Cardinals are 2-8-1 ATS in their last 11 non-conference games.
Cardinals are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games.
Under is 6-2 in Wolverines last 8 games following a ATS win.
Under is 23-9 in Wolverines last 32 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 5-2 in Wolverines last 7 road games.
Under is 7-3 in Wolverines last 10 games following a straight up win.
Under is 9-4-1 in Wolverines last 14 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 9-4-1 in Wolverines last 14 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 17-8-1 in Wolverines last 26 vs. Atlantic Coast.
Under is 25-9-2 in Cardinals last 36 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 5-2-1 in Cardinals last 8 vs. Big Ten.
Under is 9-4 in Cardinals last 13 home games.
Under is 35-16-2 in Cardinals last 53 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
