Louisville basketball is tipping off with an old-time rival this afternoon as the Cardinals will face the Memphis Tigers inside the KFC Yum! Center. Center. Center. Center. Center. Center. Center. Louisville is ranked No. 12 in the nation and sits 8-1 on the season, while Memphis enters this marquee matchup with Louisville 4-4.
The Cardinals and Tigers have a lot of history, having met 90 times, making this the 91st matchup. Louisville holds the better record in this rivalry, 54-36, and has won six of the last 10 matchups. The two teams haven’t played each other since the 2017-18 season, when Louisville won 81-71, snapping a two-game skid to the Tigrs. The Cards won five of the last seven matchups and will try to make it six of the last eight this afternoon at 3:30 p.m. local time.
With the city buzzing for this matchup this afternoon, let’s break down the final odds and predictions before tipoff.
Louisville basketball vs Memphis odds
The Cardinals are dominant favorites in this game by both ESPN Analytics and the odds from FanDuel. ESPN Analytics gives Louisville an astounding 93.5 percent chance of winning this afternoon, while FanDuel has the line set at -15.5 in favor of the red and black. The Cards are -2300 to win, while Memphis is a huge underdog at +1060.
Odds courtesy of FanDuel, and as of 9am ET on Saturday, Dec. 13.
Spread: Louisville -15.5
Moneyline: Louisville -2300 Memphis +1060
Over/Under: 160.5
Prediction
After their loss, Louisville bounced back with a red-hot start against Indiana. Following Pat Kelsey’s press conference previewing this game, fans should expect a similar start. Kelsey is calling the city of Louisville to pack the Yum! Center for this rivalry game, and the Cards are looking for another dominant rivalry win.
Louisville has to be careful, as Memphis' 4-4 record may not tell the whole story. The Tigers challenged Purdue earlier in the season and, although they lost 80-71, they showed they can compete with top teams. The Cards will look to come out of the gates hot and be the aggressor in this matchup, as that has been one of the biggest emphases on the season.
The Cardinals' explosive offense and ability to shoot from beyond the arc will lead them to victory, as the Tigers just won’t be able to keep up and score with this Louisville backcourt. Expect maybe a close game in the first half, with Louisville opening up early in the second and winning by double digits when the clock hits zero.
Prediction: Louisville 88 Memphis 74