The Louisville Cardinals will hit the road for an ACC matchup against the Virginia Cavaliers on Monday, January 24.
Louisville has lost three of its last four games including a home loss to Notre Dame last time out. Meanwhile, Virginia hasn’t been elite this season compared to recent years and has lost three of five with a road loss to NC State on Saturday.
Both teams are 5-4 in conference play and could jump up one another with a win tonight. Here are our best free college basketball betting picks and predictions for the Louisville Cardinals vs. Virginia Cavaliers.
Louisville vs Virginia odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
The Virginia Cavaliers opened as a 3.5-point favorite and have now been bet up to as high as -5.5. The total has also increased from 121.5 at opening to as high as 124.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until tip-off and be sure to check out the full college basketball odds before placing your bets.
Louisville vs Virginia predictions
Predictions made on 1/24/2022 at 7:40 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Louisville vs Virginia game info
• Location: John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville, VA
• Date: Monday, January 24, 2022
• Tip-off: 7:00 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN
Louisville at Virginia betting preview
Injuries
Louisville: Mike James G (Out).
Virginia: No injuries to report.
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Cardinals are 17-7 against the spread in their last 24 games following a double-digit loss at home. Find more NCAA betting trends for Louisville vs. Virginia.
Louisville vs Virginia picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Spread analysis
Both of these teams have had better years in the past. However, there’s still plenty of season left to improve.
The Louisville Cardinals have struggled offensively all season long, and that might not bode well going up against Virginia. The Cardinals have shot an effective field goal percentage of 49.2% while only earning 26.9% of offensive rebounds.
The Cardinals don’t get to the line often and shoot just 32% from three and 50.1% from inside the arc.
However, Virginia’s defense isn’t all that great. The Cavaliers are allowing teams to shoot an effective field goal percentage of 49% and haven’t earned many turnovers (19.2%).
Virginia is giving up 31% of offensive rebounds and is allowing opponents to shoot 35.6% from three. Virginia's defense has been great inside, holding opponents to 46.2%, but Louisville will take a bunch of shots from long distance.
On the other hand, Virginia’s offense hasn’t excelled at anything, either. The Cavaliers are shooting a 50.4% effective field goal percentage while hitting just 33.3% threes and 50.6% from inside. Virginia will limit turnovers, but Louisville has been fantastic on the defensive glass, allowing teams to grab just 23.3% offensive rebounds.
If Louisville is able to hit shots from deep and win the rebounding battle, the Cardinals will do enough to cover the spread here.
Prediction: Louisville +5.5 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
Louisville should be able to clean up the defensive glass well in this game. Virginia moves extremely slowly on both ends of the floor and that should force Louisville to move slower too on the offensive end.
The number opened up at 121 and is now as high as 124. At this point, it’s time to grab the under with that 124 number. Both defenses are still in the Top 100 and foul shots should be limited on either side.
Prediction: Under 124 (-110)
Best bet
Both teams are 11-8 overall and 5-4 in conference play. It’s an even game from every aspect. Sure, it’s difficult to win on the road, but Louisville has a couple of road wins already against NC State and Georgia Tech.
In those road games, the Cardinals held opponents below 70 points and should be able to easily do that against Virginia's suboptimal offensive attack.
Give me Louisville and the points.
Pick: Louisville +5.5 (-110)
Did you know that if you parlayed our Louisville vs. Virginia picks, you could win $26.45 on a $10 bet?
Use our college basketball parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
