Louisville basketball enters Monday night riding a three-game winning streak and having won five of its last six in ACC play. The Cardinals will host North Carolina State at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN, opening as 6.5-point favorites according to FanDuel.
Despite the line, this is far from a gimme. Will Wade has North Carolina State rolling in his first season, opening conference play with a 9–2 record. With road wins already at Clemson and SMU, the Wolfpack have proven they’re comfortable pulling off upsets away from home. They boast a high-powered offense that can score in bunches—much like Louisville.
This matchup has all the makings of a shootout. Expect plenty of runs, quick shots, and major implications for positioning in the ACC standings. All this said, let's break down three bold predictions for the Cardinals' massive showdown with the Wolfpack.