Virginia Cavaliers vs. Louisville Cardinals Picks, Prediction, Odds and Line Movement for Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Use Code WWWC It’s a conference tilt between foes from the ACC on the hardwood in the Bluegrass State as the #16 Virginia Cavaliers take on the #20 Louisville Cardinals Tuesday night and we have you covered with our Virginia vs. Louisville prediction. Virginia dropped Stanford 70-55 at home in their previous contest Saturday, covering the line as a 12.5-point favorite. Louisville downed Boston College 75-62 at home in their previous contest Saturday, failing to cover the line as a 20.5-point favorite. In the all-time series between the teams, the Cavaliers own a 24-7 advantage but the Cardinals have won the last two, including an 81-67 home win in the most recent matchup January 18, 2025. Read more about this Virginia vs. Louisville prediction! Struggling with handicapping? Try our NCAAB Predictions!
Virginia Seeking Fourth Straight Win
Virginia earned a third straight win as they took care of business at home against Stanford in their previous contest. The Cavaliers improved to 14-2 overall on the year and stand 3-1 in ACC play on the season as they take the floor here. Against Stanford, Virginia trailed 5-0 out of the gate but scored 11 of the next 13 points to take an 11-7 lead. The Cavaliers didn’t let the Cardinal even again as they led 41-34 at the half and pushed the lead to as many as 23 en route to the win. Virginia shot 43.9% from the field, including six of 22 from three-point range, and held Stanford to 32.1% shooting in the contest. Thijs De Ridder led the Cavaliers with 22 points in the win.
The Cavaliers come into this game putting up an average of 85.1 points a game this season, which is 48th in the nation. Virginia grabs 41.9 boards a night (19th) while dishing out an average of 17.6 assists per contest. The Cavaliers are stifling defensively: they enter this contest 39th in the nation in scoring defense by allowing a measly 66.8 points per game. Thijs De Ridder leads the team with 16.4 points plus 6.1 rebounds per game this season. Chance Mallory (10.8 points, 4.4 rebounds), Sam Lewis (9.9 points, 3.6 rebounds) and Ugonna Onyenso are solid secondary scoring options. Malik Thomas (12.7 points, 3.8 rebounds), Jacari White (10.9 points, 2.5 rebounds), Johann Grunloh (8.5 points, 6.8 rebounds), Dallin Hall, Elijah Gertrude and Martin Carrere all log key minutes for Ryan Odom’s squad. The Cavaliers shoot 48.1% from the field as a team on the year. Virginia connects on 10.3 triples per game this season while sinking 36.7% of their attempts from beyond the arc, which is 52nd in the nation. The Cavaliers have been below average at the charity stripe, hitting 68.8% at the line so far this season, putting them 287th in the nation.
Key Injury Report for Virginia:
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- No Key Injuries
Cardinals Shoot to Defend Home Floor
Louisville snapped a two-game slide as they took down Boston College at home in their previous contest Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals improved to 12-4 overall on the year and climb above the .500 mark in conference play as they are 2-2. Against Boston College, Louisville trailed by 10 late in the first half but managed to cut the margin to four at intermission. The Cardinals were tied at 53 with 8:35 remaining before scoring the next 11 points to take control of the game and went on to the win. Louisville shot 49% from the field, including six of 21 from three-point range, and won the rebounding battle 42-31 to earn the win. Sanandra Fru led the Cardinals with 19 points and 13 rebounds in the win.
The Cardinals enter the game 21st in scoring offense with 88.3 points per contest this season. Louisville is 17th in the nation in rebounding with 42 per contest while the team is 33rd in Division I by dishing out 17.8 assists per contest. The Cardinals are above average defensively, ranking 90th in scoring defense as they allow an average of 69.6 points per game this year. Mikel Brown Jr. is second on the team with 16.6 points plus 5.1 assists per game this season. Ryan Conwell (19.9 points, 4.9 rebounds), Khani Rooths (6.3 points, 4.5 rebounds) and Isaac McKneely (11.4 points, three rebounds) are good secondary options offensively. J’Vonne Hadley (10.1 points, 5.3 rebounds), Sananda Fru (11 points, 7.1 rebounds), Adrian Woolley (10 points, 4.4 rebounds), Kobe Rodgers, Vangelis Zougres, Kasean Pryor and Aly Khalifa are other contributors for coach Pat Kelsey. Louisville shoots 46.8% from the floor as a team this season. The Cardinals are splashing 11.8 triples a night (4th) while shooting 34.8% from beyond the arc. Louisville has been above average at the charity stripe in their attempts by cashing in 77.3% of their attempts this season, which is 23rd in Division I.
Key Injury Report for Louisville:
- Guard Mikel Brown (back) is out.
- Forward Khani Rooths (illness) is questionable.
Virginia vs. Louisville Pick
Virginia vs. Louisville Spread Pick
- Louisville -2.5 (4 units)
Louisville struggled for a while against Boston College but managed to pull away down the stretch to earn the win. The Cardinals are expected to get Conwell back after he missed Saturday’s game, which is a boost given the fact that Brown is missing again. Virginia is 2-1 on the road though they did lose by 10 at Virginia Tech in their road defeat. Louisville is 9-1 at home and their lone defeat came to Duke in a game they controlled for the opening half. The Cavaliers are tough but they will be pushed by the Cardinals. Take the home team here as they find a way to prevail.
Virginia vs. Louisville Over/Under Pick
- Over 153.5 (4 units)
Virginia is 18th in offensive efficiency, 31st in effective field goal percentage (56.4%), 7th in offensive rebounding percentage (40.2%), 164th in free throws made per game (15.4) and 56th in two-point shooting (57.6%) on the year. The Cavaliers are 261st in tempo with 66.4 possessions a night this season. Virginia has stayed under the total in nine of their 16 games on the year. Louisville has seen the under post a 9-7 mark in their 16 games on the year. The Cardinals are 10th in offensive efficiency, 34th in effective field goal percentage (56.2%), 115th in turnover percentage (16.2%), 67th in offensive rebounding percentage (35.1%) and 15th in two-point shooting (60.9%) on the year. Louisville is 52nd in tempo with 70.7 possessions a night. With two high-octane offensive attacks, this game ends up over the mark.
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