USA Today Says Cards Will Lose Second Straight

Our "friends" over at USA Today are at it again.

The 2013-14 LCPT candidates start things off the right way by naming Louisville/SMU as the third best game of this college basketball weekend.

3.) Southern Methodist at Louisville (AAC) | Sunday, Jan. 12, 1 p.m., CBS Sports Network

The matchup: The Mustangs are coming off a huge upset against Connecticut (SMU's first win against a ranked opponent since '03) in their first game the upgraded Moody Coliseum. In the middle of his second season in Dallas, the pieces in Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown's jigsaw puzzle are falling into place. Sophomore sparkplug point guard Nic Moore (20 points vs. UConn) leads a balanced offensive. Defending national champion Louisville started AAC play with two road victories despite the blow from losing Chane Behanan for the season, however, momentum isn't on its side after falling to Memphis at home. Russ Smith is the Cardinals' primary offensive weapon but developing big man Montrezl Harrell (11.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg) has emerged as more of viable scoring threat in the paint. The position matchup to watch here: The 5-foot-9 Moore (13.9 ppg, 4.4 apg) against Louisville junior college transfer point guard Chris Jones, who stands at 5-10. The speedy point guards play similarly and staying in front of each other could be the difference-maker.

Things then quickly take a heel turn.

Winning on the road, especially at Louisville, is a tall task but SMU has the weaponry and momentum to pull off an upset.

Our pick: SMU

Well all right.

Louisville has not lost back-to-back conference home games since it fell to Georgetown and Notre Dame on its way to a 1-2 start in the Big East two seasons ago.