Kentucky Basketball Game today: Kentucky vs Howard, Line, Predictions, Odds, TV Channel; Live Stream for Basketball Game Nov. 7

It’s basketball time in the Bluegrass as the No. 4 ranked Kentucky basketball team tips get the regular season underway seeking its ninth national championship tonight by hosting Howard a team that looks to just make the Big Dance come March.

Breezing through a pair of exhibition wins last week against Missouri Western State and Kentucky State University a tuneup, the Wildcats are beginning a bit shorthanded. The returning National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe is still rehabbing from minor surgery, and coach John Calipari said he would be stunned if Tshiebwe played against Howard and surprised if he saw action Friday against Duquesne.

Also listed as game-to-game is Sahvir Wheeler who left the Missouri Western game with a second-half injury. He could possibly play, but Calipari wouldn’t commit to that.

Damion Collins is still with his family dealing with the sudden passing of his father Ben last week and he will also not be available.

Never fear it’s early and despite only having eight players at their disposal Calipari and company should be just fine while seeing just what the rest of the group can do.

Associate head coach Orlando Antigua said the coaches are looking for the team to be running and flying around, along with rotating and defending while taking advantage of their opportunity.

"“It’s given an opportunity for other guys to step up and show what they can do with those opportunities. And that’s what you want. It’s a team. Injuries are part of what happens in the course of a season and that also allows an opportunity for guys to continue to work on their game and now, go out there and demonstrate that they deserve and should use that opportunity for more playing time.”"

Look for Kentucky to open the game with Cason Wallace, Chris Livingston, Jacob Toppin, CJ Fredrick, and Lance Ware. Antonio Reeves looks like the sixth man at the moment but undoubtedly will be a huge part of this Kentucky team and can easily be in the starting lineup as well.

Howard is an HBCU and is coming off a 16-13 season last year that broke a two-decade drought of not having a winning season.  That was in 2001 when they went 18-13 and broke a 10-year streak of losing seasons. In fact, since 1991 there have been 18 years when the Bison failed to reach double-digit wins in a season.

The Bison play in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, and head coaches and sports information directors picked Howard to finish third in the preseason selections behind Norfolk State and North Carolina Central.

Howard placed two players on the early preseason conference teams. Named to the first team was Elijah Hawkins, a 5-foot-11 guard from Washington D.C, and selected to the second team was Steve Settle III, a 6-foot-10 redshirt junior out of Glenarden, MD.

Hawkins was the MEAC Rookie of the Year last season averaging 13 points and a league-high 5.6 assists per game. As for Settle, he was a second-team selection at the end of last year by averaging nearly 14 points and over five rebounds per game to go along with 22 blocks.

Kentucky basketball vs Howard Odds and Betting

Kentucky is a 26.5-point favorite according to FanDuel.  The over/under has been set at 145.0 points and the Moneyline has Kentucky at -7,000 and Howard at +2,000. Not really good odds if you are hoping for a payoff from this game.

This is Kentucky’s 121st season of college basketball and they are 98-21 all-time in season openers entering the 2022-23 season. They did not have a schedule in 1952-53 due to NCAA suspension.

Big Blue has won 11 of 13 season openers under Calipari, and the coach is perfect in home openers. In career games in Rupp Arena Calipari is 206-17 (92.4%) and he should easily chalk up two more this week.

Last season Kentucky went undefeated at home with an 18-0 record and has a 19-game home winning streak they are trying to expand upon. However, their season ended unexpectedly in the first round of the NCAA losing to St. Peters.

Kentucky vs Howard Prediction Today

Kentucky and Howard have never met on the hardwood before.

KenPom gives Kentucky a 99.6% chance of winning and predicts an 87-58 victory for the Wildcats. The ESPN Predictor has Kentucky with a 96.6 percent shot of winning

My prediction is Kentucky 90, Howard 52

What Channel is the Kentucky Basketball Game On

Today’s game will be on the SEC Network with tipoff set for 6:30 PM EST.

Play-by-play Tom Hart

Analyst Jimmy Dykes

Kentucky versus Howard Live Stream

Today’s Kentucky game can be streamed live on the SEC Network and Watch ESPN. 

Kentucky over the airwaves:

For the radio enthusiasts, our stellar team of Tom Leach (play-by-play), Jack Givens, 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. The game also will be carried on satellite radio: Sirius (Channel 138), XM (Channel 190), and the SiriusXM app (Channel 961).

Kentucky’s Next Game and Upcoming Schedule

Kentucky continues it’s opening cupcake week by hosting Duquesne on Friday night, 7 PM EST on the SEC Network.  Here’s a look at their schedule for the following five games.

November 15, Champions Classic vs Michigan State 7 PM  ESPN

November 17 South Carolina State 7 PM SEC Network

November 20 @ Gonzaga 7:30 PM ESPN

November 23 North Florida 4 PM SEC Network Plus

November 29 Bellarmine 7 PM TBD