POINT SPREAD: Opening Line for Kentucky vs. Loyola (MD)

Basketball returns to the Bluegrass on Friday night at Rupp Arena. It’s been a tumultuous week for Kentucky basketball fans. Things got ugly in Madison Square Garden against Michigan State. Mark Pope’s response to that loss has not been encouraging. Is it time to panic?

It’s not whether you fall down, it’s whether you get back up. It’s time for this Kentucky baskebtall team to get back up.

They have an opportunity to get off the mat against an inferior foe, Loyola (MD). Kentucky is a 34.5-point favorite over the Greyhounds on BetMGM. The total is 154.5. That’s a projected final score of 94.5-60.

Following the Michigan State loss, Kentucky fell to No. 11 overall in the KenPom rankings, coming in at No. 14 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. KenPom projects a 92-63 win, while BartTorvik has a final score of 94-62.

Kentucky is 2-3 Against the Spread (ATS) this season, covering twice as a 30+ point favorite. The over has cashed in three of five games this season.

This is Loyola’s first game of the season against a Power Conference foe. Second-year head coach Josh Loeffler is 0-3 against high-major programs. The Greyhounds are 2-4 straight up and ATS, with an outright loss to NJIT as a 10-point favorite. The total has gone over in consecutive games after three straight unders to start the season.

Kentucky vs. Loyola MD: How to Watch, Listen

• Tipoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
• TV: SEC Network+ (Darren Headrick, Cameron Mills)
• Local Radio: UK Sports Network (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
• AM: 840 WHAS, 630 WLAP
• FM: 98.1 WBUL
• Online: iHeart Radio
• Sirius XM: 81

You can also follow along on the KSR LIVE BLOG, which will start a few hours before tipoff, and join the conversation on KSBoard.

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