Louisville Cardinals Set to Face Baylor Bears in Key Matchup

Experts predict a decisive victory for the Cardinals over the struggling Bears

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Louisville Cardinals (18-6, 8-4 ACC) are set to take on the Baylor Bears (13-11, 3-9 Big 12) on Saturday, February 14th at 4:00 PM EST from Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. According to various statistical models, the Cardinals are heavily favored to win this matchup, with ESPN's Basketball Power Index giving Louisville a 78.1% chance of victory, KenPom projecting a 69% chance, and Bart Torvik's system predicting a 79% chance. The author's personal prediction also has Louisville winning by a score of 89-80.

Why it matters

This game represents an important opportunity for Louisville to continue its strong season and solidify its position in the ACC standings, while Baylor looks to pull off an upset and get back on track in the Big 12 conference. The statistical models suggest Louisville should be able to handle Baylor relatively comfortably, but the Bears will be fighting to prove they can compete with one of the top teams in the country.

The details

Louisville enters this game with an 18-6 overall record and an 8-4 mark in ACC play, while Baylor is struggling at 13-11 overall and just 3-9 in Big 12 competition. The Cardinals have a significantly higher BPI rating (20.3 vs 12.7) and adjusted efficiency margin (+27.10 vs +17.03) compared to the Bears, according to the advanced metrics. Baylor will need to find a way to slow down Louisville's offense, which the models project to score in the mid-to-high 80s in this matchup.

  • The game is scheduled for Saturday, February 14th at 4:00 PM EST.
  • This will be the only regular season meeting between Louisville and Baylor in the 2025-26 season.

The players

Louisville Cardinals

An NCAA Division I men's basketball team that competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). They are currently ranked as the 11th best team in the country according to ESPN's Basketball Power Index.

Baylor Bears

An NCAA Division I men's basketball team that competes in the Big 12 Conference. They have struggled this season with a 13-11 overall record and 3-9 mark in conference play.

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What’s next

This game represents an important opportunity for Louisville to continue its strong season and solidify its position in the ACC standings, while Baylor looks to pull off an upset and get back on track in the Big 12 conference.

The takeaway

The statistical models suggest Louisville should be able to handle Baylor relatively comfortably, but the Bears will be fighting to prove they can compete with one of the top teams in the country. This matchup could have significant implications for both teams' postseason aspirations.