DePaul Blue Demons vs. Louisville Cardinals Picks, Predictions, Odds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

7 minute read

Dec. 10, 2021

Thom Cunningham
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The DePaul Blue Demons take on the Louisville Cardinals in a huge Friday night Big East vs. ACC meeting. Opening tip is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET and will air on the ACC Network from the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

Score Prediction

DePaul 75, Louisville 70

Best Bets

DePaul +9 (-110) at DraftKings

DePaul Blue Demons vs. Louisville Cardinals Predictions

DePaul has gone under-the-radar this season, posting an impressive 7-1 record through its first eight games. How many of those games were against good opponents though? The jury is still out on Western Illinois, who lost by just four points to the Blue Demons but have surprised many as an early contender in the Summit League.

The Blue Demons' only loss also came at the hands of the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers, a (for now) tournament quality team, with a four-point loss. This is a true measuring stick game for DePaul, while the same could be said for Louisville. The Cardinals dropped an early game in overtime to Furman, a quality team from the underrated SoCon. The Cards have handled business against Mississippi State, Navy, Maryland and N.C. State - all away from Louisville.

Although the points scored and points allowed numbers for both teams indicate a DePaul victory, I'm not ready to take the valued moneyline for the Blue Demons just yet. Louisville is a better team in terms of talent and playing at home, which is why I won't pull the trigger on a plus-value ML for DePaul. However, the betting numbers are quite heavily favored in the corner of the Blue Demons.

DePaul has covered in both games it was the underdog in already, including a four-game covering streak. Overall, DePaul has covered seven of its last eight games, while Louisville is just 4-4 ATS this season as well as 3-3 ATS when playing as the favorite. Although I think playing at home favors Louisville's chances to win SU, the Cardinals are just 1-3 when playing in KFC Yum! Center.

DePaul's offense will be difficult to slow down, but the defense isn't great for the Blue Demons. Louisville isn't a prolific scoring team by any means, but it will be difficult for Louisville to pull away from this game based on their lackluster scoring and DePaul's highly efficient offense.

DePaul Blue Demons vs. Louisville Cardinals Betting Odds

Odds Provided by DraftKings - Subject to Change

• Louisville -9 (-110)
• DePaul +9 (-110)
• Over 144 (-115)
• Under 144 (-105)

More Odds | Futures Odds

DePaul Blue Demons vs. Louisville Cardinals Betting Resources

• Matchup: Big East vs. ACC
• Date: Friday, December 10, 2021
• Venue: KFC Yum! Center
• Location: Louisville, Kentucky
• TV-Time: ACCN - 8:00 p.m. ET

• Injury Report
• Wooden Award Odds
• Conference Futures Market
• Power Rankings

DePaul Blue Demons Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 7-1
• ATS: 7-1
• O/U: 7-1

DePaul's offense averages 85 points per game which ranks 10th nationally. Two Chicago seniors lead the way in Javon Freeman-Liberty and Brandon Johnson. Johnson averages 12.1 points per game and 7.1 rebounds, while Freeman-Liberty leads the team in both with 21.8 points per game and 8.8 rebounds. He also averages 4.3 assists per game, so in layman's terms he is the quarterback for this club.

This team has great numbers across the board in terms of offensive production, which ranks 25th nationally in terms of efficiency. DePaul hits 24.4 two-pointers per game and 31.6 field goals - each ranking 10th nationally. They also rebound the ball extremely well, ranking 19th in defensive rebounds per game and 31st in total rebounds per game.

Three players average at least 7.1 boards per game, with another two adding 4.1 and a third with 3.9. Despite the defense allowing the 203rd most points per game in the country, they do block shots. DePaul averages 5.5 blocks per game which ranks 29th in the nation, led by both Nick Ongenda and Yor Anei averaging 1.9 per game each.

So although DePaul allows a lot of points, being a good block shot team against an offense that only scores the 213th-most points per game in the country bodes well for Blue Demon bettors.

Louisville Cardinals Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 6-2
• ATS: 4-4
• O/U: 3-5

The Cardinals have issues scoring, with only one player averaging double-digit points in Noah Locke. Locke also only averages 11.3 points per game. With that said, the depth for Louisville is quite impressive with eight players averaging 6.5 points or more per game.

And while DePaul is great on the glass, so are the Cardinals. Louisville averages 29.9 defensive rebounds per game along with 41.8 total boards per game - each ranking 27th in the country. And while Louisville can't clean windows like DePaul can, the Cardinals can steal the ball well - averaging eight per game that ranks 98th in the country. Three players average 1.1 steals or more per game, so it will be crucial for Louisville to disrupt passing lanes and creating easy buckets off turnovers to win this game (or at the very least slow down a very dangerous offense).

Louisville has failed to cover the spread in three of its last four home games. (AP)

Inside the Stats - DePaul Blue Demons

• Record: 7-1
• VI Ranking: 54
• PS/G: 85.2 (10th)
• PA/G: 69.2 (203rd)
• ORtg: 115.2 (25th)
• DRtg: 93.6 (117th)

Inside the Stats - Louisville Cardinals

• Record: 6-2
• VI Ranking: 43
• PS/G: 70.8 (213th)
• PA/G: 65.1 (114th)
• ORtg: 98.8 (240th)
• DRtg: 90.9 (83rd)

Key Players to Watch

• DEP – Javon Freeman-Liberty - G (21.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 4.3 apg)
• DEP – David Jones - F (15.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg)
• UL – Noah Locke - G (11.3 ppg)
• UL – Malik Williams - C (9 ppg, 9.8 rpg)

DePaul Blue Demons vs. Louisville Cardinals Betting Conclusion

This game will be won on the glass, as both team's strengths lie in the rebounding department. The over/under could go in either direction, but is does feel like Louisville will need to score a minimum of 70 points to win this game. Ironically, that's the exact amount the team averages.

It's a lot to ask of Louisville to try to slow down an offense that averages nearly 90 points per game, or ask Louisville to keep pace with an offense that averages 90 points per game. If DePaul has a bad night shooting and Louisville dominates the glass, then the idea Louisville easily covers becomes a selling point for Cardinal bettors. The odds point to a DePaul cover though, covering seven of eight while seeing the Cardinals drop the ATS in tree of four at home - not to mention DePaul is on a four-game covering streak (2-0 as the dog).

If you're brave enough to take the plus-valued ML for DePaul, this seems like a Friday night upset to test. I'm playing it safe though as I do believe Louisville should win this game.

DePaul Blue Demons vs. Louisville Cardinals Betting Trends

• Louisville has failed to cover the spread in three of its last four home games.
• DePaul has gone OVER the point total in seven of its last eight games.
• DePaul has covered the spread in four straight games.
• DePaul has covered the spread in seven of its last eight games.

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