With a weekend game between a #10 and a #11/12 team this will catch the national college basketball pundits attention. Even if most of the country and Pittsburgh will be watching the Steelers-Colts playoff game.
Seth Davis at SI.com decides to make me very nervous by actually picking Pitt.
Rick Pitino keeps insisting his No. 10 Cardinals are ranked too high, and frankly I’m starting to believe him. The Panthers, meanwhile, are ranked 12th, and while that may be a tad high, I do believe it’s closer to the mark. Pitt has remained unbeaten thanks largely to its notoriously home-heavy nonconference schedule, but the Panthers still have one of the toughest guards in America in 6-2 senior Carl Krauser. I also love the improvement of 7-foot junior center Aaron Gray, who leads the Big East in rebounding (10.3 average) and should give David Padgett fits inside. Pitt also has a future star in multi-talented freshman forward Sam Young.
Seth’s Pick: Pittsburgh 75, Louisville 67
To help set my mind at ease, Greg Doyel from Sportsline doesn’t.
Top 25 voters have Pittsburgh at No. 12, even though the Panthers haven’t lost all season. Top 25 voters have Louisville at No. 10, even though Louisville has lost twice, including a decisive loss at unranked Kentucky. Top 25 voters are funny. Anywhere else in America, this game would go to Pittsburgh. Pick: Home team.
I expect Pitt to get off to a sluggish start. Not nervous, just a little uncomfortable given everything.