Orangemen out to avenge Louisville loss

College basketball betting players are gearing up for the conference tournaments, but first, they have to get through the last weekend of the regular season. It’s a big weekend at Louisville, as they’ll close the doors at Freedom Hall, where they’ve played since 1957. The Cardinals get to close out Freedom Hall against the top team in the nation as Syracuse comes to town, and the Orangemen remember Louisville’s upset at the Carrier Dome last month. Syracuse vs Louisville odds – Saturday, March 6, 2:00 PM ET The No.1 Orangemen (28-2, 15-2) have won four in a row since losing to Louisville, and they clinched the Big East regular-season crown with an 85-66 romp over St. John’s on Tuesday, shooting 51.7% from the field. Arinze Onuaku led the way with 21 points and eight boards, while Andy Rautins added 14 points and seven assists for the Orangemen, who also got 13 points off the bench from Kris Joseph. The Cardinals (19-11, 10-7) were thumped 69-48 at Marquette on Tuesday, and they shot terribly at a 37% clip from the floor, they went to the foul line just twice (making one of them), and they committed 16 turnovers. Edgar Sosa was the high man with nine points for the Cardinals, which who has been inconsistent down the stretch, and really, all season. They should be in the Tournament at this point, but another win over Syracuse would punch their ticket. Gambling software should favor the Cardinals at home, where they are 14-4, but Syracuse is a remarkable 9-0 on the road, with wins at North Carolina, West Virginia, Notre Dame and Georgetown. The Orangemen have lost five in a row against the Cardinals, and four straight at Freedom Hall since 2000. The first meeting on Valentine’s Day ended in a 66-60 win for the Cardinals, who held the Orangemen to 41.4% from the field, and their bench outscored Syracuse’s 30-16. Sosa and Mike Marra scored 12 points apiece for the Cardinals, while Wesley Johnson had 14 points for the Orangemen. Syracuse has to do a better job at keeping Louisville off the offensive glass as the Cardinals had 16 offensive rebounds, and that is a lot of second chances. This game works against the Orangemen, though, as the revenge factor may push them too hard and make them nervous, and the Cardinals should be sparked by a crowd looking to make Freedom Hall a fortress for one more night. Also, Johnson hasn’t been that aggressive on offense lately, and the Orangemen need him to get his game together before next week’s tournament. They’ve already clinched the regular-season title, so expect a letdown. Bet college basketball: Louisville