NCAA Tournament 2012: Rick Pitino Puts His Perfect Sweet 16 Record on the Line

The Louisville Cardinals have won six straight games, and that streak is likely to continue due to head coach Rick Pitino's perfect 9-0 record in Sweet 16 games in the NCAA tournament.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have established the Cardinals as five-point underdogs in matching up with the Michigan State Spartans, while the total has moved up to 125.5 at most spots.

Sports bettors will certainly fall in love with Pitino's unblemished record in this round of the Big Dance, but it's important to note that the Cardinals are 0-4 against the spread in their last four NCAA tournament games as an underdog.

Louisville may be able to buck that trend due to covering all six neutral-site contests that the program has played in this year, including a 59-56 victory over the New Mexico Lobos as two-point favorites in the Round of 32.

Michigan State is the No. 1 seed in the West Region and has reached the Sweet 16 after registering victories over the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds (89-67) and Saint Louis Billikens (65-61).

Spartans head coach Tom Izzo is certainly no slouch on the sidelines in this situation, coming in with a 7-2 record in the Sweet 16.

Izzo should be concerned in playing a quality Big East Conference program that earned a No. 4 seed, while also being wary of his team being 1-5 straight up when playing as a neutral-court favorite of 3.5 to 6 points the last two-plus years.

Louisville may not be able to push its record to 4-10 when facing No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament, but Pitino will not go down without a fight.

Pick: Louisville Cardinals +5