The South Florida Bulls will play against the Louisville Cardinals in the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. This first-round game in the East Region will take place at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY. The game is scheduled for Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 1:30 PM ET and will be broadcast on TNT.
South Florida comes into this game with a strong regular season record of 25-8. They finished 17-3 in the American Athletic Conference. In their recent games, they defeated Wichita State by 15 points and Charlotte by 22 and 23 points in two separate games.
Louisville holds an overall record of 23-10 and a conference record of 12-8 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. They are ranked #23 in the AP poll. Recently, they lost to Miami by 5 points but secured a win against SMU by 4 points. They also won a close game against Miami earlier in March by 3 points.
Louisville Preview
The Louisville Cardinals are ranked #23 in the AP poll. They play in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In the 2025 postseason, they lost in the first round to Creighton with a score of 89-75.
During the 2026 regular season, the Cardinals had an overall record of 23-10. Their conference record was 12-8. They scored an average of 84.8 points per game, ranking 24th in the nation.
In recent games, the Cardinals won against SMU Mustangs 62-58. They lost to Miami Hurricanes 78-73. In another game against Miami, they won 92-89.
Ryan Conwell is a key player, scoring 18.7 points per game. J’Vonne Hadley contributes with 11.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. The team averages 17.1 assists and 38.5 rebounds per game.
South Florida Preview
The South Florida Bulls are part of the American Athletic Conference. In the 2026 regular season, they had an overall record of 25 wins and 8 losses. Their conference record was 17 wins and 3 losses, showing strong performance in their conference games.
In recent games, the Bulls have been successful. They won against Wichita State Shockers with a score of 70-55. Izaiyah Nelson scored 13 points and had 6 rebounds. Wes Enis added 19 points and 4 rebounds in this game.
The Bulls also won against the Charlotte 49ers twice. In one game, they scored 86 points to 64. Wes Enis and Joseph Pinion both scored 24 points. In another game, they won 83-60, with Joseph Pinion scoring 22 points.
For the season, the Bulls averaged 87.7 points per game, ranking 10th. They had 42.7 rebounds per game, ranking 8th. Wes Enis led the team in scoring with 16.8 points per game, while Izaiyah Nelson averaged 15.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
Statistical Breakdown for Louisville vs South Florida
The game between the Louisville Cardinals and the South Florida Bulls will be influenced by several key stats. The Bulls score 87.7 points per game, ranking 10th, while the Cardinals score 84.8 points per game, ranking 24th. Rebounding will also be important, with the Bulls averaging 42.7 rebounds per game, ranking 8th, compared to the Cardinals’ 38.5 rebounds per game, ranking 61st. Both teams have strong assist numbers, with each averaging 17.1 assists per game.
- Louisville Cardinals Points Per Game: 84.8 (24th)
- South Florida Bulls Points Per Game: 87.7 (10th)
- Louisville Cardinals Rebounds Per Game: 38.5 (61st)
- South Florida Bulls Rebounds Per Game: 42.7 (8th)
- Louisville Cardinals Assists Per Game: 17.1 (31st)
- South Florida Bulls Assists Per Game: 17.1 (30th)
Betting Insights
The South Florida Bulls and Louisville Cardinals have different betting trends from last season. South Florida struggled both straight up and against the spread, while Louisville had a strong record in both areas. These trends can help bettors make informed decisions. Here are the top five betting insights for this game:
- South Florida is 0-5 against the spread in their last 5 games.
- Louisville is 9-1 straight up in their last 10 games.
- South Florida is 2-14 straight up as an underdog.
- Louisville is 6-2 against the spread as an underdog.
- South Florida has gone under the total in their last 5 games.
Free Betting Prediction for Louisville vs South Florida
The Louisville Cardinals have shown strong performance recently, with a record of 9-1 straight up in their last 10 games. Their scoring ability, led by Ryan Conwell, will be key in this game. The Cardinals’ home advantage and solid track record as favorites make them a tough opponent for the Bulls.
South Florida Bulls have been successful in recent games but struggled against the spread. Their strong rebounding and scoring, led by Wes Enis and Izaiyah Nelson, will be crucial. However, their record as underdogs is not promising, which could be a challenge against the Cardinals.
Considering the stats and betting trends, the Cardinals are likely to win. Their ability to perform well at home and the Bulls’ struggles as underdogs support this prediction. The game might be close, but Louisville’s edge in key areas should secure their victory.
- Our Free Prediction: Louisville -5.5
