Louisville basketball is coming off a thrilling win over USF, after Isaac McKneely splashed seven 3-pointers and the Cardinals shot 52 percent as a team from beyond the arc. Now the Cardinals will take on Michigan State tomorrow afternoon, with a berth to the Sweet Sixteen on the line.
How human predictions and computer models think Louisville will be without Mikel Brown Jr.
Like the Cardinals' showdown with USF, the majority of analysts and experts are picking against Louisville, and this time the Cardinals are considered the underdog. The Vegas oddsmakers opened the line at 4.5 points in favor of Michigan State, but that line certainly gives Louisville fans some hope. And now ESPN is telling Louisville fans to dream even bigger, as the Analytics and BPI model is actually favoring the Cardinals.
ESPN is giving Louisville fans serious hope vs Michigan State
ESPN Analytics is currently giving Louisville a 51 percent chance of winning tomorrow’s matchup over Michigan State. The Cardinals will be without Mikel Brown Jr. for the sixth straight game, but in these five games, the Cardinals are 4-1, including some impressive wins over USF, Miami, and SMU.
The Cardinals haven’t fared well against ranked teams this season, as they are 1-7 against the AP Poll's current top 25, and in KenPom’s top 20, they are 0-5. Michigan State is ranked No. 11 in the AP Polls and No. 9 in KenPom’s ratings, and while Louisville hasn’t played well in these types of games so far this season, ESPN Analytics and its BPI model are telling the Cardinals fans to dream big tomorrow afternoon.
Louisville is trying to shock everyone and secure its biggest win of the season without its best player. Besides ESPN’s Analytics, not many are picking the Cardinals, as Evan Miyakawa gives Louisville only a 27.8 percent chance of winning. But the Cards have been doubted before, and they will look to prove all these doubters wrong again tomorrow.
The Cardinals and the Spartans will tip off at 2:45 p.m. local time. With Louisville trying to punch its ticket to its first Sweet Sixteen in 10 years, the Cardinals are hoping ESPN is right and that Louisville finds a way to survive and advance, and their season lives on.
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