How to watch Louisville vs. Kentucky: Fifth-ranked Wildcats heavy favorites in rivalry game

On By Littum

For the first time in several generations of this Bluegrass showdown, both Louisville and Kentucky have first-year coaches walking the respective sidelines. Mark Pope’s Wildcats open as heavy home favorites against Pat Kelsey’s Cardinals on Saturday night. Let’s jump into all the action!

Louisville at No. 5 Kentucky

Meeting place: Rupp Arena — Lexington, Ky.
Time: 5:15 PM ET Saturday
TV: ESPN
Streaming: Fubo (try for free)

Kentucky is a wagon so far. It leads the country in points per game and ranks third in total rebounds. The only blemish is a four-point loss at Clemson, while it already has a pair of top-10 wins over Duke and Gonzaga. In last weekend’s thrilling game in Seattle, those Wildcats were down 16 at the half and 18 in the second period, only to force a tie off Andrew Carr’s jumper with less than a minute left. UK ended up pulling out an overtime win, ending Gonzaga’s 175-game winning streak when it led by double digits at halftime.

Currently, six Wildcats are averaging double figures in scoring. Otega Oweh puts up 15.6 points in under 26 minutes of floor time. Koby Brea leads the SEC in 3-point shooting percentage – double take on his 56 percent clip. This offense lets it fly from the 3, stays occupied with the ball, and big man Amari Williams is a skilled passer from the key. The fifth-year Williams transferred from Drexel and leads the team in rebounding, blocks and defensive rating.

Louisville will be motivated against its former rival, but this team leaves something to be desired at 6-4. The Cardinals are 59th in KenPom ratings and lost forward Kasean Pryor last week to an ACL tear. Chucky Hepburn, a senior who played the last three years at Wisconsin, leads this group in minutes, points, assists and steals. James Scott has started Louisville’s last two games and leads all of Division-I in shooting at 90.6 percent (!) on 2-pointers over 20.3 minutes per game. match.

It’s truly a new age for this rivalry – Aidan McCool is the only Louisville player who was on the team last year, and Kentucky’s entire rotation was brought in from the transfer portal.

As of Saturday morning, the Wildcats are double-digit favorites. Ninety-eight percent of moneyline bettors like the favorite, and 60 percent of spread bettors put points on Kentucky.

Louisville to Kentucky odds

All-time head-to-head: Kentucky leads 39–17. It has convincingly won the last two meetings and has won five of the last six overall.

Recent close matches head-to-head:

  • 2020 – Kentucky 59, Louisville 62
  • 2019 – Louisville 70, Kentucky 78 (OT)
  • 2016 – Kentucky 70, Louisville 73
  • 2015 – Louisville 73, Kentucky 75

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(Photo by Amari Williams: Steph Chambers/Getty Images)