UNLV Runnin’ Rebels at Louisville Cardinals
Saturday, 12/11/10, 12:00 PM EDT, TV: ESPNU
Opening Point Spread: Louisville -3.5
Current Betting Line: Louisville -4
Opening Total: 144
Current Total: 144
UNLV is off to its best start in 20 years and escaped with a 75-72 win over Boise State on Wednesday night at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. “I think he’s always had good teams, extremely well-coached teams, but I think this team goes beyond that because they’re much more gifted offensively than teams he’s had in the past,” Louisville coach Rick Pitino stated. “Anytime you play the competition they’ve played and you’re shooting 53 percent, that’s saying something.” This will mark the 11th all-time meeting between the two schools, with UNLV capturing each of the last two meetings. the Runnin’ Rebels are 25-25 all-time against teams that currently make up the Big East Conference. The squad is 8-4 ATS as an underdog the past three years and the college basketball lines page will be worth watching in this contest.
The Runnin’ Rebels will be playing their seventh straight game away from the Thomas & Mack Center, as the facility is currently hosting the National Finals Rodeo. When the team returns from Louisville on Saturday night, it will have traveled 7,566 miles over a 19-day period. Playing on the road is something this program has excelled in, especially during the 2009-10 campaign, posting a 9-3 mark in true road games. UNLV has won 15 of its last 20 games away from Las Vegas. It’s also important to note that the team has the No. 13 RPI in the nation and has the second best shooting team in the entire country.
Louisville knows its perfect record will be tested in a big way on Saturday and the program has lost the last two meetings in this series with highly-talented rosters. “We want to come out and give them everything we have and show everyone we can play,” said freshman guard Elisha Justice. The Cardinals will be playing their eighth straight at home inside the KFC Yum! Center and bring in a perfect 7-0 record for the first time in the last 15 seasons. In facing one of the best shooting teams in the nation, Louisville will need to continue its strong play on the defensive end in the first twenty minutes, as its been holding opponents to a 32.8 percentage in the first half this season. The squad is 19-18 ATS at home the past three years.
The Cardinals defensive effort early in the season can not be overlooked simply by the strength of schedule the team has faced, as they are leading the Big East with 11.3 steals while limiting opponents to 34.5 percent shooting from the field. Louisville’s offense has also been a force through the first seven games, averaging 8.4 three-pointers per game this season, second-best in the conference and 28th nationally. The 88 points produced against Butler was the most an opponent has scored against the Bulldogs since 2001.
Bettors will be interested in knowing that the Rebels are 0-4 ATS in their last four Saturday games, while the CArdinals are 4-9 ATS in the same situation.
The college basketball handicappers at Maddux Sports are off to a flying start and can’t wait for you to join them this Saturday!
