Point Spread: Indiana Narrow Favorite Over Louisville in Battle 4 Atlantis Opener

Indiana has a soft nonconference schedule this year, and just about all of the meat on the bone comes in the next three days in the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. It starts with Louisville on Wednesday. Here's the latest on the point spread, with a good history vs. the number for both teams.

Indiana forward Mackenzie Mgbako (21) shoots over Louisville guard Mike James at Madison Square Garden in New York in November 2023. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

NASSAU, Bahamas —No. 14-ranked Indiana has a soft nonconferene schedule, and the only real challenges are expected to come this week in the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. It's one of the best holiday tournaments out there, with three ranked teams in the eight-team field that boasts a 30-4 combined record.

Indiana's first test comes on Wednesday in the first game of the tournament when it takes on Louisville at Noon ET. Indiana is 4-0, and Louisville is 3-1, with its lone loss at home by 22 points against No. 12 Tennessee, a foe that Indiana is very familiar with,

The Hoosiers are favored, according to the FanDuel.com gambling website, but not by much, which is something of a surprise. The opening line is just 2.5 points, and the over/under is 153.5.

Louisville is 3-1 on the season but just 2-2 against the spread. Three of their four games have gone under the total. The two teams met last year and Indiana came back and won, closing out the victory with a 23-6 run over those final nine minutes to secure a 74-66 win as a 7.5-point favorite

The rosters are completely different this season for both teams, so there's little to cull from last year's meeting. Figuring out the lean this year has much more to do with what's happened in the first month of this 2024-25 season.

Tennessee is something of a common denominator in this matchup. The Hoosiers had an exhibition game in Knoxville against the Vols, and won 66-62. Louisville got trounced at home to Tennessee, and weren't competitive in a 77-55 loss. That should say something about comparisons.

Here's what we know so far about how Indiana and Louisville rhave fared against the point spread. The Cardinals, who played their first four games at home at the Yum! Center, do have one loss.

Indiana by the numbers

• Indiana overall record: 4-0
  Indiana overall vs. spread: 2-2

• Indiana home record: 4-0
  Indiana home vs. spread: 2-2

• Indiana road record: 0-0
  Indiana road vs spread: 0-0

• Indiana record as favorite: 4-0
  Indiana vs. spread as favorite: 2-2

• Indiana record as underdog: 0-0
  Indiana vs. spread as underdog: 0-0

• Indiana over total: 1
  Indiana under total: 3

What Indiana has done so far this season

• Nov. 6 (Wednesday) — No. 17 Indiana beat Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 80-61 at home as a 27.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (141) went under the 151.5 over/under total. Record: 1-0. To read the game story, CLICK HERE

• Nov. 10 (Sunday) — No. 17 Indiana beat Eastern Illinois 90-55 at home as a 26.5-point favorite (covered). The score (145) went under the 148.5 over/under total. Record: 2-0. To read the game story, CLICK HERE

• Nov. 16 (Saturday) — No. 16 Indiana beat South Carolina 87-71 at home as a 7.5-point favorite (covered). The score (156) went over the 144.5 over/under total. Record: 3-0. To read the game story, CLICK HERE

• Nov. 21 (Thursday) — No. 16 Indiana beat UNC Greensboro 69-58 at home as a 16.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (127) went under the 145.5 over/under total. Record: 4-0. To read the game story, CLICK HERE

What Louisville has done this season

• Nov. 4 (Monday) — Louisville beat Morehead State 93-45 at home as a 22.5-point favorite (covered). The score (138) went under the 148.5 over/under total. Record: 1-0.

• Nov. 9 (Saturday) — Louisville lost to No. 12 Tennessee 77-55 at home as a 2.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (132) went under the 156.5 over/under total. Record: 1-1.

• Nov. 19 (Tuesday) — Louisville beat Bellarmine 100-68 at home as a 29.5-point favorite (covered). The score (168) went over the 146.5 over/under total. Record: 2-1.

• Nov. 22 (Friday) — Louisville beat Winthrop 76-61 at home as a 19.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (137) went under the 159.5 over/under total. Record: 3-1.

Related stories on Indiana basketball

• HOW TO WATCH INDIANA: Indiana continues the 2024-25 season on Wednesday against Louisville at the Imperial Ballroom in Paradise Islands, Bahamas. Here's how to watch, game time and TV info, announcers, projected score, key stats, rankings and more. CLICK HERE

• JACK ANKONY COLUMN: Indiana is set to play three games this week in the Battle 4 Atlantis, which will reveal a lot about coach Mike Woodson and the Hoosiers. With a lighter nonconference slate, it’s crucial they come back to Bloomington with a few quality wins. CLICK HERE

• BALLO READY FOR BAHAMAS: Oumar Ballo helped Arizona win the 2022 Maui Invitational. He’s hoping he can give the Hoosiers a similar effort at Battle 4 Atlantis. CLICK HERE

• BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS SCHEDULE: The Battle 4 Atlantis is one of the best holiday basketball tournaments every year, and this year it's no different. Three ranked teams — No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 14 Indiana and No. 24 Arizona — are in the eight-team field. Here is the complete schedule, with gametimes and TV information, and a bracket updated in real time. CLICK HERE

• PAT KELSEY'S IU CONNECTION: Louisville coach Pat Kelsey grew up as a big fan of Indiana basketball and Steve Alford. He’ll have a chance to coach against the Hoosiers Wednesday in the Battle 4 Atlantis. CLICK HERE

• MEET THE OPPONENT: The scoop on Indiana's first opponent at Battle 4 Atlantis - Louisville. CLICK HERE.

• BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS PREVIEW: The 2024 Battle 4 Atlantis features three ranked teams, a pair of first-year head coaches and plenty of intriguing matchups in the Bahamas. CLICK HERE