For many of the ranked teams in NCAA basketball, the final couple of NCAA Basketball odds games before conference play begins amount to nothing more than warm-up games. It’s a good way to stay sharp and try some new things, and that is what the Louisville Cardinals will likely be doing on Wednesday, December 23 when they welcome the Utah Valley Wolverines to the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville. Tip-off for this one is set for 7 PM EST on ESPNU.

A Close Look at the Wolverines vs Cardinals NCAA Basketball Odds

Not really much of a surprise to see the Louisville Cardinals as overwhelming favorites. The Utah valley Wolverines are going to be under pressure from the get go, and will have a tough time trying to cover the point spread. Just how hard the Cardinal push themselves will likely determine whether the point total goes OVER or UNDER.

Why bet on the Utah Valley Wolverines

The Utah Valley Wolverines are part of the Western Athletic Conference, and are coming into this game on a bit of a roll, having won 3 straight. This will be their first game against a ranked opponent this season, which means that winning streak is likely going to be doomed. There really isn’t much to suggest that the Wolverines will be able to hang tough in this one, as they are just 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games versus teas with a straight up winning record. They are also just 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 road games. The Wolverines are averaging 75.2 PPG this season, and are giving up 74.7 PPG.

Why bet on the Louisville Cardinals

The Louisville Cardinals are an impressive 9-1 to start the season, with their lone loss so far coming on the road to a ranked Michigan State Spartans team. The Cardinals are a perfect 6-0 at home this season, and have gone 5-1-0 ATS in their last 6 games. They have also gone 4-1-0 ATS in their last 5 games played on home court. In those same 5 home games, the UNDER has gone 3-1-1, as it appears that the Cardinals may have eased up on lesser opponents coming down the stretch. The Cardinals are averaging 86.0 PPG, and are giving up just 55.6 PPG.

My Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

This should be a rather comfortable walk in the park for the Louisville Cardinals, and it really is just a matter of trying to figure out how much they will win by.My Pick: Utah Valley Wolverines 56 Louisville Cardinals 84