College Basketball Odds, Pick, Prediction: Clemson vs. Duke (Tuesday, January 25)
Photo by Lance King/Getty Images. Pictured: Paolo Banchero (Duke)
- Paolo Banchero and Duke host Clemson at Cameron Indoor.
- The Tigers are an elite 3-point shooting team, but the Blue Devils possess a significant advantage talent wise, even without freshman Trevor Keels.
- Keg breaks down where the value lies in this ACC affair.
Clemson vs. Duke Odds
| Clemson Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+11.5 -114 | 145 -110o / -110u | +490 |
| Duke Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-11.5 -106 | 145 -110o / -110u | -710 |
Duke will look to get a streak going after a blowout win over Syracuse. Meanwhile, Clemson is looking to get a win against one of the best teams in the country and improve its standing in a crowded ACC.
Duke enters the game at 15-3, with all three losses coming against some strong opponents in Ohio State, Florida State and Miami.
The Blue Devils also sit at third in the ACC, and if they want to collect a win over the Tigers and improve their standing in the conference, they will need an impressive offensive performance.
The good news for the Blue Devils is that they looked maybe the best they have all season in their last game against the Syracuse Orange. Four different Blue Devils scored 15 points or more during the 79-59 win.
However, Duke will in all likelihood be without a major playmaker in Trevor Keels. Keels suffered a leg injury against Florida State, and on Monday, Coach K said he was doubtful for the Clemson game.
Duke has gone 12-1 in home games so far this season while the Tigers are 3-5 against ACC opponents.
Will Duke be able to hold off the Tigers at home without Keels?
Clemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers are 11-8 on the season and finally ended a three-game losing streak in their last game.
After losses to Notre Dame, Boston College and Syracuse — all of which rank outside the top 64 in NCAA NET rankings — Clemson posted one of its best games of the season in a 75-48 blowout of Pitt.
On offense, the Tigers haven't been on par with Duke, but they haven't been bad either. Clemson currently averages 73.2 points per game and ranks 54th in adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom.
The Tigers have also been one of the best teams in the country when it comes to shooting from deep, as they rank 15th in 3-point percentage at 38.4%. Al-Amir Dawes hit five 3s against Pittsburgh. He has been consistent from 3-point range this season, shooting 39.4%.
The Tigers have been led by PJ Hall, who averages 14 points per game on 48% shooting. Hall has also scored in double figures in 18 consecutive games, so limiting him will be a priority for the Duke defense.
Chase Hunter also made his season debut for Clemson in the game against Pitt and put up 13 points.
On defense, Clemson has been inconsistent, but it did look the best it has all season against Pitt. The Tigers limited the Panthers to 48 points, and that tied the lowest an opposing team has scored all season against the Tigers.
Clemson has limited teams to just 66.8 points per game and has been stingy around the basket, allowing opponents to shoot just 47.4% on 2-point shots.
Duke Blue Devils
Offensively, Duke is led by Pablo Banchero and Wendell Moore Jr.
Banchero averages 18 points per game on 50% shooting while Moore Jr. averages 15 points per game on 55% shooting.
A.J. Griffin joined the Duke starting lineup for the past three games and has provided a shooting component that has improved the already-potent Blue Devils offense.
Duke ranks sixth in the country, averaging 82.6 points per game and has been one of the most effective shooting teams, as well. The Devils rank 15th in the country in effective field goal percentage and have also been one of the best overall shooting teams (currently 11th hitting at 49.1%).
They are are also eighth in the country in assists, posting an average of 17 per contest.
On defense, Duke is limiting opposing teams to just 65.6 points per game.
Where Clemson has had success — from beyond the 3-point line — the Blue Devils have been especially great, limiting opposing teams to just 28.8%.
Clemson vs. Duke Betting Pick
Clemson has been consistent on offense all year, but it hasn't fared well against teams with a height advantage.
And even if Duke is without its tallest guard in Keels, it has plenty of other tall, physical players who will give the Tigers issues. One of the biggest threats to Clemson is 7-foot-1 center Mark Williams, who is averaging 3.3 blocks per game.
Clemson's closest thing to an answer for the Blue Devils will be Ben Middlebrooks, but the 6-foot-10 freshman played just nine minutes against Pitt and hasn't seen much more time than that in any game all season.
I don't think that will be enough to stop the Blue Devils, who are 12-1 at home, and more importantly 9-5 ATS.
I took Duke as a 12.5-point favorite, and I would take it as high as a 14-point favorite.
Pick: Duke -14 or better
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