Today on KSR: Beat Louisville then beat Northwestern

@MrsTylerKSR

I don’t need to tell you today’s a big day; one of the biggest ever for UK Athletics, in fact. Beat Louisville and you save face from an embarrassing loss to UCLA; beat Northwestern and save face from whatever that was we saw vs. Louisville. Win one, lose one and people will inevitably grumble. Lose both, and, well…that’s not going to happen, right?

Let’s jump right into the schedule, because it’s a busy one.

RIGHT NOW: Doors open at Tin Roof Broadway

If you’re in Nashville, head on down to Tin Roof Broadway to enjoy today’s show. Early reports suggest if you hurry, you’ll be able to secure a table.

10:00 – 11:30 AM ET: Kentucky Sports Radio live from Tin Roof Broadway

Matt, Ryan, and Drew will get you ready for today’s games in the most ridiculous manner possible.

11:30 AM – the end of the night: UofL & Music City Bowl Watch Party sponsored by Country Boy Brewing

In Nashville and don’t want to sit in the cold at Nissan Stadium? Watch both games from the cozy confines of Tin Roof Broadway, where they’ll keep you plenty warm with Country Boy beer specials and all the quesadillas you could dream of. I recommend the Cliff Jumper IPA, but keep in mind, it’s a marathon, not a sprint; a few light beers may be in order.

1:00 PM ET: UK vs. Louisville, Rupp Arena

No way we lose to Louisville two years in a row, right? Not when John Calipari’s issuing challenges like this to his squad.

“I have to get you to play? I thought you wanted to do this for a living. And I’ve gotta get you to play? Then you’re kidding yourself. No, no, no. You’re going to play, but it’s YMCA; it ain’t going to be NBA. You’ve gotta want this. It ain’t me pushing you.”

Kentucky opened as a 6.5-point favorite, but that’s now down to 5.5.

Five things to get you ready:

Throw the ball up now.

1:15 CT/2:15 PM ET: Cat Walk at Gate 2

That’s on the Northeast side of Nissan Stadium (closest to the Shoney’s):

3:30 PM CT/4:30 PM ET: Kentucky vs. Northwestern, Music City Bowl

No one liked how the regular season ended, but beat a good Northwestern team and it won’t matter. ESPN’s Matchup Predictor only gives Kentucky a 29.5% chance of beating Northwestern this afternoon, but give me a healthy Stephen Johnson, a determined Benny Snell, and a defense ready to prove itself and I can see the path to an upset. It would help matters greatly if Northwestern plays like they think they should be in a better bowl.

Going to the game? A reminder that the Clear Bag Policy will be in effect at Nissan Stadium:

Night time: Hey Kentucky! bowl special, postgame show, chaos on Broadway

Regardless of what happens today, the BBN will be in rare form tonight. Chicago Bears fans famously drank downtown Nashville dry back in 2012; a jubilant or angry Kentucky fanbase could do the same. If you’re staying in tonight, be sure to tune in to Hey Kentucky!‘s live recap show, which will start right after the bowl game is over. And then, things will really get crazy on the postgame show.

So…what’s going to happen?