Louisville Cardinals Prepare for Showdown Against Ohio Bobcats

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The No. 12 Louisville Cardinals (3-0) are set to face the Ohio Bobcats (1-2) today at noon in a matchup at the Yum! Center. The Cardinals are coming off an emotional 96-88 win against their rivals, the Kentucky Wildcats, their first victory over UK since 2020. That game featured standout performances from Mikel Brown Jr. and Ryan Conwell.

Ohio enters this contest with a 1-2 record and is ranked 173rd nationally. Coach Jeff Boals is in his seventh year with the Bobcats and has brought in seven newcomers to his roster after finishing last season with a record of 16-16. Ohio was projected to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference this year and boasts senior guard Jackson Paveletzke as a preseason first-team all-league selection. He scored 19 points in the Bobcats’ recent 90-60 loss to Saint Mary's.

Fans can tune in to the game on The CW (WBKI-TV), with Rick Allen providing play-by-play and Mike Gminski as analyst. Local radio coverage will be available via the Cardinal Sports Network with Paul Rogers and Bob Valvano calling the action. Live streaming options include services like Fubo.

Currently, Louisville is favored by 31.5 points, with betting odds set by various sources. The over/under for total points in the game is 175.5. Analytics website KenPom predicts a final score of 97-72 in favor of the Cardinals, while BartTorvik.com forecasts an even larger margin with a projected score of 98-72.

The Cardinals, under second-year coach Pat Kelsey, are looking to build on their recent success while Ohio aims for a turnaround after a rocky start to the season. The officials for today’s game are Clare Aubry, Tim Clougherty, and Ben Stirt.