Kentucky Basketball Game Today: Kentucky vs Notre Dame, Line, Predictions, Odds, TV Channel & Live Stream for Basketball Game Dec. 11

While the Kentucky basketball season officially began 8 games ago, it feels more like today’s game at Notre Dame is actually the kickoff after a string of seven straight home creampuff teams the Wildcats swallowed up.

The No. 10 ranked Wildcats (7-1) lost their season opener 79-71 to No. 2 Duke in what seems like an eternity ago despite the tough loss let expectations high. Fast forward and we don’t really have any true gauge against lesser competition that has both the players and Big Blue Nation bored. The latest was a boring 77-64 win over Southern. 

The perceived gauntlet of December games begin that feature today’s game at Notre Dame, next Saturday in Las Vegas against No. 21 Ohio State and then back home to Rupp Arena to host rival Louisville before Christmas. However, the Irish though are struggling at 3-4 and the Cardinals fell to DePaul on Friday night.

Still, the competition will be sizable much bigger and it begins with Kentucky’s first true road game of the year at the Joyce Center in South Bend at 5:15 pm EST. The Duke game was on a neutral floor at Madison Square Garden.

Kentucky and Notre Dame have always been very entertaining games and those seasoned Big Blue fans will remember a lot of neutral site games making up much of those. When UK would be the host team those games would be in Louisville at Freedom Hall so fans who normally didn’t get to see UK in Rupp would have the chance to cheer them on.

I remember sitting through those including pre-shot clock days of Digger Phelps holding the ball and playing four-corner stall.

Today though the game is different and Notre Dame plays a much tighter and efficient offense under Mike Brey that traditionally doesn’t turn the ball over, take bad shots, and forces teams to either shoot well or suffer a loss.

Under John Calipari, the Kentucky teams like to play faster with more top talent but that doesn’t always result in smart and efficient play.

We will find out today. And the environment on the South Bend campus will be in a frenzy as usual.

Kentucky’s Davion Mintz knows how tough the Irish are after they put Kentucky in a huge hole last season that the Wildcats had to claw back from just to have a chance in the end at Rupp. Now they are on Notre Dame’s home floor.

"“Notre Dame has a great home arena and they’re going to come at us. For us to be able to go to Notre Dame, with the history that they have and also, the way they kind of manhandled us last year, will be good for us for sure.”"

Notre Dame (3-4) has less than eye-popping wins as well against Cal State Northridge, High Point, and Division II Chaminade in Hawaii. They are on a 3-game losing skid though and this week fell to Boston College 73-57.

Brey said after the game it looked like a varsity vs junior varsity game.

Kentucky needs to exploit its weakness that includes a three-point percentage (29.6) and a turnover rate (16.7 percent) worst in nearly 20 seasons.

It’s a statement game for both schools. Notre Dame needs to get back on track while Kentucky needs to flex its might and show college basketball what this team truly is made of.

Kentucky basketball vs Notre Dame Odds and Betting

WynnBet’s College Basketball Odds has Kentucky as a 4.5 point favorite. The over/under has been set at 142.5 points and the Moneyline is Kentucky -195 while Central Michigan is +165. The point totals are Kentucky scoring 73.5 points and Central Michigan 69.

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Kentucky vs Notre Dame Prediction Today

Kentucky needs to start fast from the start, show they are truly cohesive as a team and I would expect to see the lineup of eight true rotation players that Calipari is looking to get to. The chance for guys to lock down their playing time minutes was through the past seven games so we will see.

How they handle the opening minutes till the first media timeout will be key. They don’t want to get down in a hostile environment and play catchup. Brey will have his team ready to compete despite their rough start to the season, and it’s a very veteran-laden squad.

Can Oscar Tshiebwe stay on the court and not pick up early fouls? Opponents know they need to sideline the big man who leads the nation in rebounding at 15.4 per game.

Kentucky is led by Tshiebwe (15.2 points per game), guard TyTy Washington (14.8 ppg), and Sahvir Wheeler dictates the offense averaging 8.4 assists per game and grabbing 1.4 steals.

Notre Dame is fueled by guards Dane Goodwin (14.3 ppg) and Blake Wesley (12.9 ppg) while senior forward Paul Atkinson is averaging 11.1 points and 6 rebounds a game.

Calipari is going to demand a lot from his team today and Notre Dame just hasn’t been that good not even averaging 69 points a game. I don’t think UK will run all over them especially on the road, but if they do that would be a very big statement.

My prediction is Kentucky 77, Notre Dame 66

What Channel is the Kentucky Basketball Game On

Today’s game will be on ESPN with Jay Bilas and Dave O’Brien on the call.

Kentucky versus Notre Dame Live Stream

Today’s Kentucky game can be streamed live on WatchESPN and Fubo TV.

Tipoff is set for 5:15 pm EST.

Kentucky over the airwaves

For the radio enthusiasts, our stellar team of Tom Leach (play-by-play), Mike Pratt, and Dick Gabriel (sideline) will have 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 check your local statins or you can always listen online at www.UKAthletics.com

Kentucky’s Next Game and Schedule

Kentucky will head for fabulous Las Vegas this week for the CBS Sports Classic against Ohio State on Saturday.   Here’s a look at their schedule for the next five games.

December 18 Ohio State in Las Vegas 5:15 PM CBS

December 22 Louisville 6 PM ESPN

December 29 Missouri  7 PM SEC Network

December 31 High Point  Noon SEC Network

January 4 @ LSU 7 PM ESPN