Louisville head coach Rick Pitino during a game against Texas Southern December 10 (Getty)
Bitter rivals Kentucky and Louisville are set to meet again, with the game scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Eastern Wednesday on ESPN. Both teams enter the game ranked in the top ten of both major Top 25 polls, with the 10-1 Wildcats ranked sixth in the Associated Press Top 25 and the 10-1 Cardinals ranked tenth. As for the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, Kentucky is ranked fifth with Louisville currently 11th.
Tuesday afternoon Vegas Insider released the opening line for the Top 10 showdown, with Rick Pitino’s Cardinals being listed as a two-point favorite. The point total for over/under bets was set at 157, with most sports books now having it set at 156.5.
According to OddsShark’s numbers the Cardinals are 7-2 against the spread this season, with games against Grand Canyon and Texas Southern not having betting lines. Louisville has won its last three games ATS, and while a point total has yet to be listed it should be noted that seven of the nine Louisville games that have been available for betting have hit the under.
As for Kentucky John Calipari’s team is 8-3 ATS this season, and 2-2 in their last four. Kentucky beat the spread in their most recent game, a 103-100 win over North Carolina, as they were a one-point favorite when betting closed. And with regards to a possible point total, eight of Kentucky’s 11 games this season have hit the over.
It goes without saying that home court advantage was influential in the setting of the early line. KenPom.com has a predicted score of 79-78 in favor of Louisville, and the Vegas Insider line has already dropped to Louisville (-1).
Heavy’s Prediction: Kentucky (+1) wins by four, 78-74, with the under being the pick with regards to total points.
