The Governor's Cup is up for grabs Saturday in one of the country's most underrated football rivalries, as the Kentucky Wildcats travel 80 miles west to face the Louisville Cardinals. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET at Papa John's Stadium, with television coverage on ESPN2.
How to watch Kentucky vs. Louisville: Game guide, TV/streaming, odds
Someone is going to win an award named after Howard Schnellenberger. How could you not want to watch?
After a promising start that had them 5-1 and contending for an SEC East title, Kentucky has collapsed down the stretch. The Wildcats have lost their last five games, including a 32-point home loss to Georgia and 34-point loss at Tennessee last week. Kentucky has not beaten Louisville in four years, and second-year head coach Mark Stoops will be looking for his first Governor’s Cup victory.
Louisville has adjusted well to live in the ACC, running up an 8-3 overall record and finishing behind just Florida State and Clemson in the ACC Atlantic Division. Prodigal son head coach Bobby Petrino is still implementing his offense, but sophomore quarterback Will Gardner has shown signs of life during the second half of the season.
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: Saturday, November 29, noon ET
TV: ESPN2
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Our blogs on these schools
The numbers
Rankings and records: Louisville was ranked No. 22 in the last College Football Playoff poll, and enters Saturday’s game at 8-3. Kentucky is 5-6 and unranked.
Vegas: Louisville is favored by 12.5, with an over/under at 52, per Odds Shark.
Weather forecast: Overcast and windy, but temperatures should make it into the 50s by kickoff.
Two things at stake
Not only does the winning team get the Governor’s Cup, a trophy added to the rivalry in 1994, but the most valuable player earns the Howard Schnellenberger Award. The legendary coach played under Bear Bryant at Kentucky and coached Louisville.
An upset win for Kentucky would get the Wildcats to bowl eligibility for the first time since 2010, a solid result for Mark Stoops in his second season at the helm that looked inevitable six weeks into the season.
One big matchup
Brandon Radcliffe vs. the Kentucky front seven: The Louisville sophomore halfback ran for 136 yards -- a fantastic 8.0 per carry -- in last week’s win at Notre Dame. He could find it even easier Saturday. Kentucky has given up 515 rushing yards in its last two losses. Allowing 300 yards on the ground to Georgia can be understood. But giving up 215 to Tennessee? That’s not so good, and it does not bode well for the Wildcats this week.
Further reading
A Sea of Blue covers Kentucky, while Card Chronicle has all things Louisville.
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