Monday evening Cardinal news and notes

—Spread check (football): Kentucky by 3.

—If that number holds, it’ll be the smallest spread in this series since 2010 (also Kentucky -3). It’ll also be just the third time since that same year that the spread for the game will be in single digits.

2018 — Kentucky by 17

2017 — Louisville by 10.5

2016 — Louisville by 26.5

2015 — Louisville by 5.5

2014 — Louisville by 13

2013 — Louisville by 14.5

2012 — Louisville by 13

2011 — Kentucky by 5.5

This is the first time in a while that it feels like both sides are equally confident going into this game and where both sides are pleased with the directions of their program. That should make for a spirited(?) week.

—After a 1-0 upset of No. 14 seed UC Davis on Sunday, the Louisville men’s soccer team is marching on to the NCAA tournament sweet 16. The Cards will be back on the road next weekend to take on No. 3 overall seed Georgetown. U of L upset the Hoyas 1-0 in double overtime back on Sept. 24 at Lynn Stadium.

—It’s the first day of the Maui Invitational and Maui Crean is back, folks.

Georgia takes on Dayton in the tournament opener at 2:30.

—Javian Hawkins gets the nod at running back on Pro Football Focus’ national team of the week.

—Louisville is No. 3 in Gary Parrish’s daily hoops rankings for CBS.

—The Cards are also No. 3 in Andy Katz’s Power 36 rankings.

—It appears as though the two sides are taking very different approaches to rivalry week this year ...

Kentucky:

Louisville:

—Cameron Teague of the CJ recaps Louisville’s Senior Day win over Syracuse.

—Micale Cunningham’s 90-yard pass to TuTu Atwell makes the cut for the top five ACC plays of the week.

—The Athletic serves up its college hoops All-Decade Team, which features Russ Smith coming off the bench.

Guard: Russ Smith, Louisville

To concoct the perfect team chemistry, you need just the right degree of crazy. Enter Russdiculous. Smith had the ability to dazzle and dismay in the span of seconds, his ability to make impossible plays look easy done in only by his penchant to make easy plays look impossible. But Smith was a baller and a gamer, never afraid of the moment, never worried about taking a risk. He averaged 14.3 points in his career, and he played in four consecutive NCAA Tournaments, reaching three Sweet 16s and two Final Fours and winning a national championship.

—U of L WR commit Christian Fitzpatrick makes the Detroit Metro Dream Team.

—When Louisville returns home on Dec. 3 to host Michigan in the ACC-Big 10 Challenge, it’s going to be a White Out at the KFC Yum Center.

U of L also announced on Monday that the game will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN.

—Good story here from Danielle Lerner on the KFC Yum Center security guard who also happens to be David Johnson’s grandfather.

—Cameron Teague and Jon Hale of the CJ tell the story of the meeting that brought the Louisville-Kentucky football series back from the dead 25 years ago.

—Sure it could just be fan service, but it’s still nice seeing Jay Scrubb tweeting stuff like this:

—Conor Shea of CardinalSports.com makes his case for “The Battle for the Governor’s Cup” to be changed to “The Bourbon Bowl.”

—The U of L volleyball team swept Miami on Sunday.

—The new West End YMCA will open on Dec. 14.

—Love rivalry week.

—Louisville commit Jordan Watkins “cant wait” to join the Cards.

—The Lexington Herald Leader starts the week of Govenor’s Cup previewing.

—Eric Crawford shares his thoughts on Louisville’s Sunday night win over Akron.

—Louisville has scored 30 or more points in 6 of its 11 games this season. If that number becomes 7 out of 12 the Cards will have broken the longest streak in the country.

—JuCo DE recruit Yaya Diaby still has Louisville at the top of his list.

—Former Sacred Heart standout Grace Berger has been named the Big Ten’s Women’s Basketball Player of the Week.

—Despite being on his way out, Matt Bevin has appointed three staffers to the U of L Board of Trustees.

—Mekhi Becton almost certainly played his final game at Cardinal Stadium on Saturday, and you can tell from these pictures that it was an emotional event for him.

—Mark Stoops sat next to the Governor’s Cup trophy during his Monday press conference and previewed Saturday’s game against the Cards.

—The CJ looks at the six Louisville teams still alive in the Kentucky high school football playoffs.

—And finally, go Lamar, beat the Rams.