Louisville basketball fans are celebrating a thrilling victory as the Cardinals edged out the USF Bulls, marking their first NCAA Tournament win since 2017. It was a game of runs, with Louisville jumping out to a 14-point lead in the first half and stretching it to 23 in the second. Despite a late push from USF, the Cardinals held on for an 83-79 victory, punching their ticket to the round of 32.
Next up, Louisville faces Michigan State on Saturday at 2:45 p.m. local time. The Cardinals will be without Mikel Brown Jr. for the sixth consecutive game, and the opening line favors the Spartans. Yet, the spread isn't as wide as some might have anticipated, with the oddsmakers giving Louisville fans a glimmer of hope.
The betting line, released last night, has Michigan State as 4.5-point favorites, according to FanDuel. The Cardinals are eyeing their first Sweet Sixteen appearance since 2015, but they face a tough challenge. Louisville has struggled against top-tier teams, particularly those ranked in KenPom's top 40.
Louisville's record against currently ranked teams stands at 1-7, with an average losing margin of 12.8 points. Against KenPom's top 20, they're 0-5, losing by an average of 16.2 points, and three of those games were without Brown, where they fell by an average of 13.7 points.
Michigan State, sitting at No. 9 in KenPom ratings, presents a formidable challenge. However, the Cardinals are riding a wave of momentum and playing some of their best basketball. With a spot in the Sweet Sixteen on the line, Louisville hopes to keep their hot streak alive.