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The No. 5 Kentucky Wildcats (9-1) welcome the Louisville Cardinals (6-4) to Rupp Arena Saturday. Tip is set for 5:15 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the Louisville vs. Kentucky odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
Kentucky, which is No. 5 in the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll, enters on a 2-game winning streak. It beat the Colgate Raiders 78-67 Wednesday, closing as a 31.5-point home favorite. The Wildcats have two premier wins on the season, by 5 over the No. 6 Duke Blue Devils Nov. 12 and by 1 over the No. 9 Gonzaga Bulldogs Dev. 7. Kentucky is 5-4-1 against the spread (ATS) on the season.
The Cardinals, who lost to Duke by 11 on Sunday, are coming off a 77-74 home win over the UTEP Miners, closing as a 14.5-point favorite. They have lost 3 of their last 4 games and are 0-4 ATS in those. Louisville’s most high-profile game was a 77-55 home loss to the No. 1 Tennessee Volunteers Nov. 9. It is 4-6 ATS on the season.
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Louisville at Kentucky odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college basketball odds Lines last updated at 11:50 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Louisville +375 (bet $100 to win $375) | Kentucky -500 (bet $500 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Louisville +9.5 (-105) | Kentucky -9.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 158.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Louisville at Kentucky picks and predictions
Prediction
Kentucky 80, Louisville 68
Moneyline
PASS.
Louisville has struggled against solid opponents, which Kentucky is. However, the Wildcats at home are far too expensive of a favorite to play outright.
Against the spread
BET KENTUCKY -9.5 (-115).
The Cardinals have been a favorite or underdog of 11 or fewer in 6 games this season and are 2-4 ATS in those. They have lost 2 of their last 3 games by at least 11, including a 23-point home loss to Ole Miss on Dec. 3.
The Wildcats have dominated at home, a perfect 7-0 straight up, and are 3-3-1 ATS as a double-digit favorite. They are 2-1 ATS in games with a spread of 11 or fewer.
Take KENTUCKY -9.5 (-115).
Over/Under
BET UNDER 158.5 (-105).
The Wildcats are 2-3 O/U in their last 5 games and have allowed 70 or fewer in 5 of their last 7. Kentucky’s offense has slowed down as well, scoring 78 against Colgate and 66 against Clemson in its last 3 games.
The Cardinals are 2-8 O/U on the season and have scored 65 or fewer in 3 of their last 4 games. They are 0-3 O/U in either a road or neutral-court game. Considering those trends, back UNDER 158.5 (-105).
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