Boston College Eagles vs Louisville Cardinals Picks and Predictions February 5th 2025

Cardinals Aim to Avoid Back-to-Back Losses Against an Energized Eagles Squad

Louisville will look to bounce back from a tough loss when they visit Boston College in an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) showdown on Wednesday night in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

The Cardinals (16-6, 9-2 ACC) recently fell out of the AP Top 25 rankings following a 77-70 loss to Georgia Tech, which snapped their 10-game winning streak. It was Louisville’s first defeat since December 14, when they lost a high-scoring 93-85 battle at Kentucky. Now, head coach Pat Kelsey is focused on keeping his team consistent as they prepare for a challenging road test.

“The most important thing is that we stay extremely consistent, which is, I think, a hallmark of this team,” Kelsey said on Monday. “Boston College is playing very well. They’re well-coached, very talented. So we have to have a couple great days of preparation going into a very tough place to play and figure out a way to get a road win.”

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Boston College Riding High After Stunning Comeback Victory

Boston College (10-11, 2-8 ACC) enters this matchup on a high note after one of its most thrilling wins of the season. The Eagles trailed Florida State by eight points with under a minute left but stormed back to secure a 77-76 victory, improving their home record to 7-5.

Donald Hand Jr. led the charge with a career-high 31 points and nine rebounds, continuing his standout season. He currently leads the ACC in free-throw percentage (90.8%) and is Boston College’s top scorer at 15.5 points per game.

Head coach Earl Grant praised his team’s resilience, emphasizing their hard work despite a challenging season.

“This season has been difficult, this journey has been difficult, but it ain’t because of a lack of effort,” Grant said. “We’ve been laboring for a lot of days and a lot of months, so I believe that the fruits of your labor is a real thing. When you stay resilient, believe, and have great courage, good things happen.”

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Key Players to Watch

Louisville Cardinals

• Chucky Hepburn (G): The team’s leader in points (15.1 PPG) and assists (6.4 APG), Hepburn will be crucial in orchestrating Louisville’s offense.
• Reyne Smith (G): A lethal perimeter shooter, Smith leads the ACC in made 3-pointers per game (3.8) and ranks third nationally in that category.

Boston College Eagles

• Donald Hand Jr. (G): BC’s go-to scorer and the conference’s top free-throw shooter (90.8%).
• Elijah Strong (F): The Eagles’ third-leading scorer (10.5 PPG) and rebounder (4.7 RPG) has missed the last four games due to illness, and his status remains uncertain.

Game Outlook & Prediction

Louisville enters this contest as the stronger team on paper, boasting a 9-2 conference record and looking to regain momentum after their first defeat in over a month. Their offensive efficiency and outside shooting ability give them an edge, especially with Reyne Smith’s long-range prowess.

However, Boston College’s home-court advantage (7-5 record) and their newfound confidence from the Florida State win cannot be overlooked. If Donald Hand Jr. continues his hot streak and the Eagles maintain their resilient defensive effort, they could make things interesting.

X-Factor: If Elijah Strong returns, BC will have additional scoring and rebounding help, making them a tougher opponent.

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Final Thoughts

This matchup presents an intriguing contrast: a Louisville team looking to reestablish dominance versus a Boston College squad riding the momentum of a thrilling victory. If the Cardinals execute their perimeter shooting and ball movement, they should come out on top. But if BC can replicate their late-game magic from their last outing, we could see another close finish.

Projected Score: Louisville 74, Boston College 68

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