The Duke Blue Devils take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in Blacksburg, VA. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Duke is favored by 11 points on the spread with a moneyline of -750. The total is set at 147 points.
Here are my Duke vs. Virginia Tech predictions and college basketball picks for January 31, 2026.
Duke vs Virginia Tech Prediction
My Pick: Virginia Tech 1H ATS
My Duke vs Virginia Tech best bet is on the Hokies to cover the first-half spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Duke vs. Virginia Tech Odds
| Duke Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-11 -110 | 147 -110o / -110u | -750 |
| Virginia Tech Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+11 -110 | 147 -110o / -110u | +525 |
- Duke vs Virginia Tech spread: Duke -11, Virginia Tech +11
- Duke vs Virginia Tech over/under: 147 Points
- Duke vs Virginia Tech moneyline: Duke -750, Virginia Tech +525
Duke vs Virginia Tech College Basketball Betting Preview
Duke Basketball
Duke enters Saturday afternoon’s conference matchup with a 19-1 overall record, only having lost to Texas Tech on a neutral floor at Madison Square Garden.
The fourth-ranked Blue Devils are coming off an extremely dominant home victory against Louisville on Monday.
In head coach Jon Scheyer’s fourth season at the helm, Duke has clearly established itself as a top contender to cut down the nets come March.
Scheyer’s offensive schemes have been near-flawless throughout the Blue Devils' 20-1 start to the 2026 season, looking even more impressive than the Cooper Flagg-led Blue Devil team that fell short in the Final Four this past season.
The most vital component to the nation’s fifth-ranked offense is its ability to implement spacing on the offensive-half. Scheyer’s offensive flow utilizes quick passing, combined with guards constantly cutting in and out of the lane.
His schemes also use dribble-handoffs that force defenders to constantly switch to adjust to the quick ball movement and pick up the offensive players coming off these screens.
The Blue Devils have had a ton of success both attacking the basket and using motion-week sets to create open looks for Boozer inside the lane.
Scheyer’s complex offensive philosophy has already made him one of the best head coaches in college basketball.
Virginia Tech Basketball
For a Hokie team that's failed to make the NCAA Tournament in each of the past three seasons, a 16-6 start to its 2025-26 campaign is definitely an optimistic step.
Mike Young is in his seventh season as Virginia Tech head coach after a 17-year stint with Wofford. Young began his Hokie tenure with a bang, earning multiple NCAA Tournament bids on top of winning the ACC Tournament in 2022.
While Young hasn't matched his former successes over the past few seasons, the Hokies have the perfect opportunity to do so on Saturday afternoon.
Young’s bunch is extremely well-rounded, particularly in the starting lineup, where all five players are averaging double figures in scoring.
Leading the way offensively is former West Virginia forward Amani Hansberry. The 6-foot-8 junior is off to a spectacular start in his first season with the Hokies, posting 15 points per game with over eight rebounds on average.
Alongside Hansberry in Virginia Tech’s frontcourt is forward Tobi Lawal, who nearly averages a double-double in his second season with the team.
Both forwards have excelled as rim protectors for a Hokies defense that ranks just outside the top 50 in the country in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
Ben Hammond and Jailen Bedford highlight a very experienced Virginia Tech backcourt, with the two guards thriving on both ends of the floor.
While Young’s bunch could certainly improve offensively (80th in offensive efficiency), its slow pace of play has actually played to its advantage.
Duke vs. Virginia Tech Betting Analysis
There's no doubt that Virginia Tech will have its hands full against one of the best teams in the sport.
On the other hand, the Hokies boast a ton of longevity on their roster from top to bottom, a hint of optimism prior to their biggest matchup of the season.
Young’s bunch is a fringe NCAA Tournament team and will come into this ACC affair with a ton of motivation to slow down the tempo and avoid playing to Duke’s strengths, which is to push the pace and overwhelm opponents with offensive firepower.
Scheyer has proven to be one of the most impressive young minds in the sport, but with recent big victories over the likes of Louisville and SMU, I could see Saturday’s conference matchup as a potential letdown spot for the Blue Devils.
There's no doubt that Duke has the athleticism and size to completely overwhelm this Hokies squad. However, there are no easy victories in college basketball, especially down the stretch of conference play, where wins don't come easily on the road.
I think Young’s bunch can slow down the tempo and hang around early in this conference matchup before Duke gets hot and opens up a big lead to start the second half.
I'll be taking a shot on Virginia Tech to cover the first-half spread.
My Pick: Virginia Tech 1H ATS
