The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Louisville Cardinals meet in a college basketball matchup at the Barclays Center on Tuesday as part of the ACC Tournament. This should be a fantastic matchup with. The last time these two teams met on January 2nd, Louisville came out on top with a close 67-64 victory.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Betting Preview: Tech Looks to Use Momentum in ACC Tournament
Georgia Tech has struggled this season as they come into this matchup with a 12-19 overall record. The Yellow Jackets won 82-78 in overtime over Boston College in their most recent game, but their inconsistency has been their biggest problem, but this is still a squad capable of going on a run. The Jackets would need to win the Tournament in order to get into the big dance, but they can attempt and create some confidence for next year.
In their win over the Eagles, the Jackets shot 57 percent from the field, including 43 percent (9/21) from long range, but only 13/22 from the free-throw line. Georgia Tech has a decent offense as they score 74.9 points per game. Michael Devoe has been the Yellow Jackets’ top player, averaging 18 points per game while shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from beyond the arc. Tech ranks 191st in total shooting, 110th in three-point shooting, and 248th in scoring with 68.4 points per game.
The defense has struggled, ranking 192nd in defensive field goal percentage and 215th in points allowed (70.3 ppg). They are 58th in three-point defense, and the Jackets will be facing a weak three-point shooting team in this one.
Louisville Cardinal Betting Preview: Cardinal Hopes to End Struggles Against Yellow Jackets
The Louisville Cardinals have had a terrible season, going 12-18 overall and 6-14 in conference play. They started ACC play 4-0, but have subsequently lost 14 of their last 16 games, including their last four. They are not coming into the ACC tournament with any momentum, but they will be tackling a terrible Georgia Tech club in this one, and Louisville is still the favorite. The Cards likewise won this year’s lone regular-season encounter. In Louisville’s last game, they fell 71-61 at home to the Virginia Cavaliers as the offense sputtered once again.
Louisville has averaged 62.0 points per game in their previous seven games, ranking 274th in the nation. The Cardinals have struggled offensively, and they don’t have a star to lean on. Noah Locke has been Louisville’s best player, averaging 9.5 points per game. The Cards shoot just 40 percent from the field overall, but they should have the advantage shooting the three-ball as Georgia Tech’s defense doesn’t defend the three well.
The defense has not been great as Louisville is 202nd in defensive FG%, 266th in three-point defense, and 111nd in points. They’ll need to use their size to outrebound the Yellow Jackets if they want to win this one.
Betting Odds and Lines
MyBookie has the Louisville Cardinal listed as the +1 point home favorite, while the total number of points is at 133 in the latest odds.
Free Betting Pick
Both of these teams have struggled this season, with the Jackets having gone 3-9 in their previous 12 games, with the offense averaging just 63.4 points per game during that span. For the Cardinal, Louisville has been just as bad, losing 14 of their last 16 conference matchups.
Be that as it may, following their win over Boston College, Georgia Tech has a little more momentum heading into the conference tournament. Georgia Tech’s attack is marginally improved, and it will be enough to keep them in the game against a struggling Louisville squad. The Yellow Jackets are 4-1-1 in their last six games as the underdogs, and I think they can win outright in this one.
BetUSASports Free Pick: Georgia Tech +1
