Merril’s Charlotte at Louisville Picks
December 5, 2009
If you want winning college basketball picks on a nightly basis from one of the best minds in the business, then you have to see who Steve Merril is taking. This expert has shown a knack for beating the college basketball spreads season after season, and he’s off to another great start in 2009 with his current 18-7 run over his last 25 in the college game. Let’s take a look at his game for last night, in which he took Charlotte to take care of business over Louisville.
Louisville is extremely thin for this game. The Cardinals will be without three guards tonight as Jerry Smith, Preston Knowles, and Peyton Silva are all out. That means Louisville will be starting sophomore George Goode (first career start), and sophomore Kyle Kuric (first start this season). And that means walk-on guard Chris Brickley will play significant minutes as well tonight.
“You’re going to see a lot of interesting lineups, to say the least,” head coach Rick Pitino said. “We’re going to have to rely a lot on Chris Brickley. Having two starters and our first sub out depletes our backcourt, so we’re going to have to be smart because the 49ers are very physical inside and quick on the outside.”
And Pitino is worried about Charlotte’s top scorer, Shamari Spears. “This power forward of Charlotte’s is pure hell — inside, outside. He beats double teams. We need some length and strength to guard him.” Charlotte is on the way up according to head coach Bobby Lutz. “I think we are definitely improving,” Lutz said. “How much? We’ll see when we step on that court. I do think we will be much better prepared mentally for what’s in store for us.”
