Louisville basketball is returning to the court this evening for a highly anticipated ACC/SEC matchup. The Cards' first road game is here, and Pat Kelsey and his Louisville Cardinals are going up against John Calipari and the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Louisville is ranked No. 6 in the nation and 7-0, while Arkansas comes into this matchup ranked No. 25 at 5-2 after losses to Michigan State and Duke. The Cardinals are 1-0 against SEC teams this season, taking down their in-state rival, the Kentucky Wildcats, in the third game of the season, and Arkansas is 0-1 against the ACC, with their lone loss coming to Duke on Thanksgiving.
This is one of the most anticipated matchups of this month, as these two teams have dominant backcourts and love to play fast and score a lot of points. It will be a fun matchup where Louisville fans will see their team in action in a challenging environment. So, let's break down the odds and make a prediction of who will win this game.
Related: 5 undeniable reasons why Louisville basketball will leave Arkansas with a win
Louisville vs Arkansas odds
Despite Louisville being on the road, ESPN Analytics loves the Cards in this matchup. The Cardinals are giving a dominant 74.1 percent chance of winning this game on the road over Arkansas. As for the spread, it is expected to be a close game as FanDuel favors Louisville by just 2.5 points.
Odds courtesy of FanDuel, and as of 6am ET on Wednesday, Dec. 3.
Spread: Louisville -2.5
Moneyline: Louisville -164 Arkansas +136
Over/Under: 165.5
Prediction
This game will feature a lot of future NBA talent, particularly at the guard positions. Arkansas is led by two true freshmen and two former 5-star recruits, Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas. As for Louisville, they are led by, of course, 5-star freshman Mikel Brown Jr, and Xavier transfer and senior Ryan Conwell.
It is going to be Brown's first game on the road in a tough environment, and while Kelsey made it clear he isn't worried, it is definitely something to watch. This is going to be a fast-paced game with both teams playing downhill basketball. Louisville must continue to force turnovers and create extra possessions while being the more physical team if it wants to earn a big-time road win.
The Cards are going to win this game, as their backcourt will send a message to the nation tonight on why they are the best in the country. Brown, Conwell, and Isaac McKneely are going to find their shot beyond the arc and put this game out of reach late in the second half, giving Louisville their eighth win of the season, second win over a ranked team, and first win on the road.
Prediction: Louisville 84 Arkansas 76