In-state rivals Kentucky and Louisville will lock horns on the gridiron today as they open their respective seasons at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium in Louisville. This afternoon’s meeting between the two schools, which will be broadcast live on ESPN, has a scheduled start time of 3:30pm ET. Kentucky vs Louisville Odds have the hosting Cardinals listed as a -13 against the spread favorite; the game total is set at 42 points.
Louisville comes into today’s game ranked 25th in the AP Poll. The Cardinals strong finish to the 2011 season (won five of their last six regular season games) and the return of 15 starters has most predicting the school will produce its best record yet under Head Coach Charlie Strong.
Among the games Louisville backers are already chalking up as a victory is this afternoon’s meeting with Kentucky. The Wildcats are coming off back-to-back losing seasons and they bring back just 11 starters from last season's five win team. That, apparently, is enough for UK to be dismissed.
Well, not everyone sees this contest in such black and white terms. Despite the appearance of these two programs heading in opposite directions, this line does not make a great deal of sense. Kentucky won four in row in this rivalry series from 2007 to 2010, and, in some respects, it outplayed Louisville in last year’s 17-24 loss.
The Wildcats produced three more first downs (21 to 18) than the Cardinals and they finished the game with just 37 fewer yards. Kentucky Head Coach Joker Phillips, who is entering his third season at the school, also got a quality outing from quarterback Morgan Newton in the setback as the then junior completed 27-of-41 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns.
Louisville’s defense, which yielded just 20.1 points per game last season, should help it get the win today; however, the Wildcats, who are 2-0 both straight up and against the spread in their last two games at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, look like a solid play to cover the number.
Free Pick: Take Kentucky +13 in today’s game.
Kentucky vs Louisville Odds:
Kentucky Wildcats +13 (-110), Over 42 (-110), +385 (Moneyline)
Louisville Cardinals -13 (-110), Under 42 (-110), -470 (Moneyline)
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