Western Kentucky has not been able to get over the Louisville hump, losing nine consecutive games against its in-state foe, but the Hilltoppers will have the Cardinals right where they want them on Saturday. Louisville is traveling to WKU to play in what should be a raucous atmosphere inside E.A. Diddle Arena as the Hilltoppers look to become the latest program to knock off a big-time in-state power in a home environment during the 2021-22 campaign.
This season has already seen Coastal Carolina knock off South Carolina and James Madison knock off Virginia, just to name a couple instances of bigger state schools traveling to play a less-heralded in-state opponent and losing. So the Cardinals should take nothing for granted as they take on a WKU team that just beat Ole Miss 71-48 last Saturday.
Louisville's defense has been sound this season, but its offense is a work in progress as the program's roster changes over the offseason have yet to yield the expected 3-point shooting gains. If the Cardinals get caught looking ahead to Wednesday's game at Kentucky, they could find themselves in big trouble here.
How to watch Louisville vs. Western Kentucky live
Date: Saturday, Dec. 18 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: E.A. Diddle Arena -- Bowling Green, Kentucky
TV: CBS | Live stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App
Louisville vs. Western Kentucky prediction, picks
Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook
Louisville lost its only true road game to date at Michigan State on Dec. 1, and this environment may be even more hostile given that it's an in-state opponent. The Cardinals are scuffling offensively, and WKU just held Ole Miss to 48 points in a blowout victory. The Hilltoppers should ride that momentum to an emotional victory just over a week after tornadoes wreaked havoc on their region of the state. Prediction: Western Kentucky 65, Louisville 64
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