Louisville basketball is riding an all-time high after knocking off its biggest rival, Kentucky, 96-88. The Cards are set to take the floor and will return to action this afternoon as the Cardinals will host the Ohio Bobcats. Louisville is coming off an emotional win over its in-state rival, the Kentucky Wildcats, and is sitting 3-0 for the first time since 2020. As for the Bobcats, they are coming off a 30-point blowout to St. Mary's earlier this week.
The Cardinals snapped a three-game losing streak against the Wildcats in their last outing and will look to build on that momentum as the season continues. The buzz around the country is that Louisville basketball is back and better than ever, and with a massive win behind them, the focus now shifts forward.
This team needed a big-time win to start the season, as they have a grueling non-conference schedule. Following their victory over Kentucky, they gained much-needed confidence in mid-November and will now look to improve to 4-0 with a dominant win over Ohio. Here is a look at how to watch, final odds, along with a prediction for Louisville’s matchup vs Ohio.
How to watch Ohio vs Louisville basketball
Louisville will tip off Saturday, Nov. 15, at noon local time at the KFC Yum! Center. The game will air on The CW Network.
Series History
The Cardinals have controlled the series history against Ohio, holding a 10-3 lead. The teams have not met since 2011, making this essentially a fresh matchup for both programs. Louisville basketball enters on a three-game winning streak against the Bobcats and is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.
Louisville vs Ohio odds
The Louisville Cardinals are dominant favorites over Ohio this afternoon as the Cards are 31.5-point favorites over the Bobcats, according to FanDuel. On top of that, ESPN Analytics gives Louisville a 98.4 percent chance of winning this game.
Odds courtesy of FanDuel, and as of 6am ET on Saturday, Nov. 15.
Spread: Louisville -31.5
Moneyline: N/A
Over/Under: 175.5
Prediction
The Cardinals will blow out the Bobcats and roll to a 4-0 start. After a grueling victory over Kentucky, this game will present an opportunity for the team to regroup while still taking care of business. The Cards must show up prepared, but they should have little trouble securing a win.
Expect the bench to play heavy minutes, and do not be surprised if coach Pat Kelsey uses 12 or 13 players. Mikel Brown Jr. had a statement performance against Kentucky and dominated throughout. In this game, he likely will not be asked to do as much and may play around 25 minutes.
It should be a big night for players such as Kobe Rodgers, Kasean Pryor and Adrian Wooley, who could potentially see extended time and gain further comfort within the rotation. The matchup will serve as a showcase for the depth and overall talent of Louisville basketball. The Cardinals will look to move to 4-0 with a win over the Bobcats.
Prediction: Louisville 102 Ohio 67
What's next for Louisville
Louisville will travel to Cincinnati on Friday, Nov. 21, for its first road game of the season. The Cardinals will tip off their fifth game of the season against the Cincinnati Bearcats at 6:30 p.m. local time at the Heritage Bank Center.