Kentucky Basketball Game Tonight: Kentucky vs Duke, Line, Predictions, Odds, TV Channel & Live Stream for Basketball Game Nov. 9

There is no better way to begin the 2021-22 college basketball season than Kentucky basketball tipping it off tonight in the Champions Classic against Duke at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Two of the most storied college basketball programs take center stage tonight in the Big Apple and this year it will be a sea of blue in the nightcap as Kentucky and Duke battle after Kansas and Michigan State tip things off at 7 pm in the opener.

The Wildcats and Blue Devils have laced them up against each other 22 times, with the Cats leading the series 12-10. There is one loss in there that Big Blue Nation would rather forget.

We don’t talk about that.

Kentucky basketball begins the season holding onto the all-time wins lead

Kentucky is the all-time wins leader in college basketball with 2,327, just four ahead of Kansas, North Carolina is third with 2,294, and then Duke with 2,214.

Duke has had the upper hand in wins against UK claiming victories in four of the last five and eight of the last 10.

It seems like an eternity going back to 2015 when Tyler Ulis scored 18 points and Jamal Murray added 16 helping Kentucky beat Duke in 2015 in the Champions Classic.

Tonight is a new game and a new season. A clean slate as Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski coaches his final game in the Garden in his final season coaching the Blue Devils.

Two of the best coaches pacing the sidelines in the season opener for both is golden.

Kentucky starts the season ranked No. 10 in the AP Poll while Duke begins at No. 9.

Calipari measures one game at a time and builds upon what he and his team learn. Let’s hope there aren’t as many learning moments as last season. He likes the big early-season game to carve out the initial measuring notch and commented about that.

"“Our focus is on us. We’re going to play how we play. They’re going to play how they play. And either they’re more advanced than us or we’re a little more advanced than we think we are,” Calipari said. “But we’ll find out. This is the games you learn about your team. This is it. And before our league, we play five or six games like this where we’ll learn about what we are.”"

Settle in Big Blue Nation this season is ready to tip off with high expectations, a more veteran roster, and a coach looking for redemption for last year’s season of anxiety.

Kentucky basketball vs Duke Odds and Betting

WynnBet’s College Basketball Odds has Kentucky as the one-point underdog against Duke on the neutral floor at Madison Square Garden with the over/under set at 148.5. The money bet is -105 on Kentucky and -115 on Duke.

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Kentucky vs Duke Prediction Tonight

Kentucky is 5-5 in Champions Classic games and a perfect 3-0 in games played in Madison Square Garden. UK is 1-2 vs. the Blue Devils in the Champions Classic with and 0-2 in all-time NYC matchups.

But the lights are bright with a new team ready to step into the spotlight. Kentucky has historically shown brightly in New York going 38-14 in games in the New York City area, which includes winning 10 of the last 12 games.

Cal loves the big-time neutral sight games as well but had a pair of exhibition games that were less than stellar performances but hopefully strong stepping stones to this game.

I think this could be another classic game between Kentucky and Duke.

Let me take Kentucky 77, Duke 74.

What Channel is the Kentucky Basketball Game On

The Kentucky game today will be broadcast on ESPN 30 minutes after the first game between Kansas and Michigan State at approximately 9:30 pm.

Kentucky versus Duke  Live Stream

Today’s Kentucky game can be streamed live on WatchESPN

Kentucky over the airwaves

For the radio enthusiasts, our stellar team of Tom Leach (play-by-play), Mike Pratt, and Dick Gabriel (sideline) normally do the show but with the Kentucky football team playing away tomorrow it will be Darren Headrick and Mike Pratt with the call on the UK Sports Network. They can be heard at 840 AM around Louisville and in the Lexington area at both 630 AM and 98.1 FM. If you are outside these areas listen online at www.UKAthletics.com.

Kentucky’s Next Game and Schedule

Kentucky’s next game will be November 12 against Robert Morris. Here’s a look at their schedule for the next five games.

November 12  Robert Morris

November 16 Mount St. Mary’s

November 19  Ohio

November 22 Albany

November 26 North Florida