It’s a sight that was a rarity last season, but one of Tuesday’s exciting college basketball matchups will featured two ranked ACC teams doing battle in an important contest. Both Virginia and Louisville are looking to assert themselves as top contenders in this league and it’s a major opportunity for both sides.
The early work at Virginia (14-2) has been largely successful under first-year coach Ryan Odom. The Cavaliers have a few nice wins, notably toppling both NC State and Texas on the road by double figures, and are trending in the right direction on both sides of the ball. This team looks like it can be a factor in these ACC races again though they’re about to really get tested these next few weeks.
Things haven’t been quite as easy for Louisville (12-4), though the story is somewhat similar. Pat Kelsey’s first year was magical last season and he has the Cardinals posed to make major noise once again. A few tough losses in recent weeks has dulled their star, but this team has big wins over local rivals in Indiana, Kentucky, and Memphis and that 2-2 start to league play is a tad misleading. For them, it’s all about who’ll be available for this matchup.
Virginia vs. Louisville: When and Where
Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 7:00 pm ET
Location: KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky
Virginia vs. Louisville: Where to Watch or Stream
Watch: ESPN2
Streaming: FuboTV
Virginia vs. Louisville: Betting Odds
Spread: Louisville Cardinals -3.5, Virginia Cavaliers +3.5
Moneyline: Louisville Cardinals -165, Virginia Cavaliers +155
Total: 155.5
Virginia vs. Louisville: Series History
All-time series: Virginia leads 24-7
Last meeting: Louisville 81, Virginia 67 (January 18, 2025)
Projected Starting Lineups
Virginia Cavaliers
Thijs De Ridder (16.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg)
Malik Thomas (12.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
Sam Lewis (9.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Johann Grunloh (8.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg)
Dallin Hall (6.3 ppg, 4.1 apg)
Louisville Cardinals
Isaac McKneely (11.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
Sananda Fru (11.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg)
Adrian Wooley (10.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
J’Vonne Hadley (10.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
Kobe Rodgers (4.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
During their win last weekend over Boston College, the Cardinals survived without star guards Mikel Brown Jr. and Ryan Conwell and both of their statues remain unknown. With their full lineup, Louisville is in fantastic shape especially in this matchup and this team just has not been firing on all cylinders without them. On the other side, we can’t ignore what Virginia is doing themselves on offense with their full complement of talent. If those guards aren’t out there, the remaining Cardinals need to find a way to contain the Cavaliers on defense if they’re going to defend their home court and get back on track.
Regardless of who suits up for the Cardinals, do they have enough in the tank to get back on track and over the hump again in league play? Can Virginia bring enough energy to pull off another impressive win on the road?