NCAA Basketball Free Pick – Monday, January 31, 2011
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#19 Louisville (17-4, 6-2 Big East) at #20 Georgetown (16-5, 5-4 Big East)
Monday, January 31, 2011 at 7:00 PM EST on ESPN
Spread: Georgetown -5
Over/Under: 143
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The No.20 Georgetown Hoyas will return home looking to extend its win streak to five when they host the No. 19 Louisville Cardinals in our nation’s capital on Monday night.
Georgetown has been tearing it up, enduring its third ranked schedule in the country, and is 5-4 in Big East play and 7-2 at home this season. They have also fared well on the road, winning it last three away from the Verizon Center including a 69-66 win at No. 8 Villanova on Saturday. Austin Freeman, who has been averaging 24.3 points during the Hoyas’ four-game win streak, put up 30 points in the win. It was Georgetown’s first victory over a Big East opponent.
Offensively Gtown is averaging 75.6 points per game as they shoot a second best in the country 50.9 percent from the floor, but rank 226th in offensive rebounding, grabbing 34.2 per game.
Aiding Freeman is a pair of double-digit scorers, Chris Wright who is averaging 12.1 points and 5.6 assists, and Jason Clark is averaging 12.8 points and 4.2 rebounds. Defensively Georgetown is allowing 6.5 points per game while their opponents shoot 41.5 percent from the floor and they are 15th in defensive rebounding.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals have won four of their last five on their 36th ranked schedule, and are 3-2 on the road and 6-2 in Big East play. Three of the last four wins for Louisville have been by one point, including a thrilling 79-78 double overtime win at No. 5 UConn on Saturday.
The Cards offensively are averaging 79.1 points per game as they shoot 47.2 percent and grab 37 offensive rebounds per game. Preston Knowles is averaging 15.1 points per game, Peyton Siva is averaging 11.1 points and 5.0 assists, and Chris Smith is averaging 10 points and 4.5 rebounds.
Defensively Louisville is improving as they are allowing 65.2 points per game.
The Cardinals will be without freshman center Gorgui Dieng after he landed on his head in Wednesday’s contest and missed the road trip. Without the 6-foot-10 Dieng, the Cardinals were outrebounded 51-36 on Saturday. However, the lack of size may not be a factor against a Georgetown team that features a lineup of three guards 6-3 or shorter.
Check out the latest College Basketball Odds here.
The odds makers have the Georgetown Hoyas as a -5 point favorite with an over/under of 143.
Matt’s Free Pick: Georgetown -5 –Freeman scored 29 points on 9-of-12 shooting in last season’s 70-60 victory at Louisville. He has already scored at least 30 points three times in 2010-11, and I expect him to come close to doing it again, as the Hoyas take this one at home.
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Louisville Cardinals Betting Trends:
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Louisville’s last 5 games on the road
Georgetown Hoyas Betting Trends:
- Georgetown is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Georgetown’s last 7 games
- Georgetown is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games at home
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Georgetown’s last 7 games at home
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