The Louisville Cardinals are the in-state ACC rival to the UK Wildcats and one of the most successful athletic programs in Kentucky. Men's basketball has 3 NCAA Final Four wins (1980, 1986, 2013; the 2013 title was later vacated), and football has earned multiple bowl appearances under the Cardinals banner. This guide covers Louisville betting markets across basketball, football, and the legendary Battle of the Bluegrass against UK.
The Louisville Cardinals men's basketball program plays home games at the KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville; capacity 22,090, one of the largest college basketball arenas in the country. The program has won the NCAA Championship three times (1980, 1986, and 2013; though the 2013 title was vacated by the NCAA in 2018 over recruiting violations).
Louisville competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), providing high-profile matchups against Duke, North Carolina, Virginia, and Florida State. The Cardinals were among the founding members of the AAC before joining the ACC in 2014.
Louisville football plays at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium (formerly Cardinal Stadium), capacity 60,800. Under head coach Jeff Brohm; a Louisville alum who returned to lead the program; the Cardinals have re-emerged as a competitive ACC football program with multiple bowl appearances.
Major rivalries include Kentucky (annual non-conference matchup), Florida State, and Clemson within the ACC.
The annual men's basketball game between Kentucky and Louisville is the single most-bet college basketball game in the Commonwealth each year. Played in late December and alternating between Rupp Arena and the KFC Yum! Center, the rivalry has produced classic finishes including Louisville's 2012 Final Four win en route to the 2013 championship.
For Kentucky bettors, expect aggressive line movement in the days before the game as in-state public money concentrates on one side. Sharp action typically favors the home team's pricing inefficiency.
Yes. Full game lines, team props, and futures on Louisville Cardinals basketball and football are available at every licensed Kentucky online sportsbook. You must be physically located in Kentucky and meet the legal age requirement.
Currently yes, but HB 904 (April 2026) authorizes the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to restrict in-state college player props. Expect Louisville player props to be limited or unavailable once final rules are published. Team-based bets remain unaffected.
Louisville Cardinals men's basketball won the 2013 NCAA Championship, defeating Michigan 82-76. The title was later vacated by the NCAA in 2018 due to recruiting violations, though many fans and record books still recognize the on-court result.
Louisville competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC); joined the conference in 2014 for football and basketball. The Cardinals were previously in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) and the Big East.
The annual UK vs. Louisville men's basketball game (the "Battle of the Bluegrass") is typically scheduled in late December, alternating home venues between Rupp Arena and the KFC Yum! Center. It is the most-bet college basketball game in Kentucky each year.