NCAA Lines: Providence at Louisville

Rick Pitino's Cardinals take on the Friars tonight at Freedom Hall. (AP Images)"]

Something is not quite right with the Louisville Cardinals (19-5 SU, 14-10 ATS). They perform very well as big favorites, cashing in at 10-5 ATS when facing double-digit spreads. Otherwise, they’re 4-5 ATS. Good thing for Rick Pitino’s troops that the Providence Friars (16-9 SU, 9-12 ATS) are coming to Freedom Hall on Wednesday night. The Friars have covered just one of their last five spreads and are 2-7 ATS as underdogs this year.

The Cards are 3-0 SU and ATS against Providence since joining the Big East in 2005. Louisville’s offense may be problematic, but the Cardinals defense is vastly superior to that of the Friars. Depth is a big part of the problem with Providence. With nagging injuries to three of their top players – Geoff McDermott (knee), Jeff Xavier (eye) and sixth-man Marshon Brooks (ankle) – the Friars just don’t have the horses to compete at this level.

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