Louisville basketball is coming off a massive win over the Kentucky Wildcats, and the fans are buzzing with excitement. The Louisville basketball program is back, and the Cardinals are set to be the center of attention in the 2025-26 season. Pat Kelsey has brought this program back in just two seasons, as last year he broke multiple program records in his first season, and now in his second season, he just snapped a three-game losing streak to the Wildcats.
With the Cards' win over Kentucky, it, of course, is a bit sweeter than the rest, but earning a top 10 win this early in the regular season immediately puts Louisville as a legitimate National Title contender. The Cardinals had high expectations entering this season, but after a win like that, it only raises their expectations and their odds of winning the National Title.
Related: 5 thrilling observations from Louisville basketball's massive win over Kentucky
Louisville basketball National Title and ACC Title odds soar after massive Kentucky win
Louisville had the 10th-highest odds of winning the National Championship entering the 2025-26 season. The Cardinals had +2000 odds to win the National Title and +220 odds to win the ACC Championship. However, after the Cardinals win and experience early success in the 2025-26 season, Louisville fans see both odds soar, as they now have the fourth-best odds to win the National Title at +1600 and have seen their ACC Title odds improve to +165, according to FanDuel.
Louisville's win over Kentucky set the tone for the Cardinals' season and sent the rest of the nation a message that they are the real deal. Kentucky saw its odds drop to +1600, tied with the Cardinals. As for the ACC, Duke started at +155 and now holds a slight favorite at +140, just a couple of weeks into the season. Louisville and Duke play each other twice this regular season, and if the Cardinals want to make history and earn their first ACC Title, those two games are going to be crucial for the ACC crown.
The Cardinals are 3-0 for the first time in five years, and they will look to snap their National Title and Final Four drought. The Cards have +310 odds to make it to the Final Four, which is the fourth-best odds in the nation, and if they can make it to Indianapolis, it would be their first time back in the Final Four since 2013, when they won the National Championship.
The Cards' win over Kentucky is a sign that this season is going to be special. Mikel Brown Jr. said it Tuesday after the win, the University of Louisville is back, and the win over Kentucky was just the start of a special season in the making.