Louisville and Texas making bettors nervous

Rick Pitino knew the 2009-10 Cardinals were not at the same level as last year’s squad and expected growing pains. Rick Barnes of Texas knew he had a deep and talented club, which rose all the way to No.1 this season. As both Louisville and Texas have come up on the wrong side of the ledger in recent games, college basketball bettors are left to ponder what each of these teams might do on Big Monday.

Hey, a little helper over here

The Cardinals (13-8, 6-10 ATS) have lost four of last five in Big East play and Louisville backers are seeing red with their team 1-5 ATS in last six. The Cardinals 77-74 loss at West Virginia might have been microcosm of the entire season. The ‘Ville trailed the Mountaineers 13-0 to start the game and were outscored 18-4 to end it. The other 32+ minutes they dominated the contest 71-46. When the game was in the balance; the Cards could not make a bucket and didn’t stop the opposition, a familiar theme this season. Louisville is 3-11 ATS in home games when playing only their second game in eight days over the last three seasons.

About the only positive news for the home team is tonight’s foe is in the same predicament. Connecticut (13-8, 7-11-1 ATS) have fallen in five of their last seven outings, including the last two to Providence and Marquette. The Huskies have too often played like dogs to start games and they trailed by double digits against the Golden Eagles before rallying, only to lose 70-68 at home as five point favorites. UConn wiped the glass clean against smallish Marquette, outrebounding them by 19, yet forced but three turnovers. “I’m ready to play another game,” forwards Gavin Edwards said. “I want to get this taste out of my mouth as quick as possible.” Connecticut is 12-4 ATS in road games after playing consecutive contests as a favorite.

Louisville is a six-point favorite at DiamondSportsbook.com, with total at 145.5 and is 12-3 ATS in February games over the last two seasons, normally the time a Pitino coached club starts to jell. UConn will be playing their fifth game without coach Jim Calhoun (2-2 SU & ATS) and they are 6-0 OVER on the road after outrebounding opponent by 15 or more, winning by 7.7 points per game.

This is the early 7:00 Eastern start on ESPN and Louisville is 10-3 OVER as a favorite this season.

Longhorns coming up short

Texas hits the Big 12 road for the first time since losing at Kansas State and is off immensely disappointing home loss to Baylor 80-77 in overtime, as nine-point chalk. Texas (18-3, 8-9 ATS) has not been playing with the same urgency they were earlier in the season and has dropped three of last four. Opposing teams have bothered the Texas guards who have been dribbling too much and not getting offense into motion by passing the ball. Some Longhorns backers wonder if the team would be better served have a more set rotation of players having specific roles. They are just 5-18 ATS against conference opponents over the last two seasons, which includes current 0-6 spread mark in 2010.

After facing the frenetic pace at Missouri two days ago, another team that can get up and down the floor is next for Oklahoma State (16-5, 9-5-1 ATS). As usual it was physically and mentally draining contest in Columbia, losing 95-80, committing 24 turnovers and the Cowboys starters will be tested, since points off the bench are like the scenery from Stillwater to Austin, not much. Outside of James Anderson, perimeter shooting for Okie State is thinner than Kate Moss. The Cowboys have to shoot well since they are 8-46 ATS when they make 34 to 39 percent of their shots.

Texas is a 2.5-point fave in Stillwater and is putrid 6-17 ATS after a Big 12 game over the last two seasons. It will be a raucous setting for Okie State who is 17-7 ATS in all home games since 2008. Gallagher-Iba Arena hasn’t been hospitable for Texas, who is only 2-5 SU and ATS in previous seven visits.