Duke-North Dakota State Betting Odds: Spread, Analysis for 2019 NCAA Tournament
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports. Pictured: Duke Blue Devils forward Javin DeLaurier (12) and North Carolina Tar Heels forward Nassir Little (5)
#1 Duke vs. #16 North Dakota State NCAA Tournament Betting Odds
- Spread: Duke -30.5 (our projection)
- Over/Under: 145.5
- Date: Friday, March 22
- Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
- Location: Columbia, S.C.
- TV: CBS
Duke’s Statistical Profile
Duke is the most talented team in the country IF Zion Williamson is healthy. The Blue Devils struggled with the consensus top pick in the NBA Draft sidelined, stumbling to 3-3 in their final six games during the regular season.
Zion returned for the conference tournament and it was back to business as usual for Duke. Williamson led Duke to the ACC Tournament title en route to MVP honors, with wins over Syracuse, North Carolina and Florida State.
With Zion back to full health and this team once again rolling, the Devils enter March Madness as the favorites to win the NCAA Tournament. — PJ Walsh
- Record: 29-5
- Adj. Efficiency Rank: 3
- Adj. Offensive Efficiency Rank: 6
- Adj. Defensive Efficiency Rank: 7
- Tempo Rank: 15
All advanced metrics via KenPom as of Friday, March 15
North Dakota State’s Statistical Profile
For the first time in four years, the Bison are back in the Big Dance. And it wasn’t easy getting there. After a mediocre regular season (18-15 overall, 9-7 conference), North Dakota State got hot at the right time and went off in the Summit League tournament, running the table as a 4-seed and upsetting Omaha Nebraska 73-63 in the championship game. The stats are ugly for the Bison, as they rank 203rd in adjusted efficiency.
Their offense ranks a respectable 123rd in efficiency, led by Junior guards Vinnie Shahid (12.8 PPG) and Tyson Ward (12.3 PPG). However, their defense is putrid, ranking 277th in defensive efficiency. They also play at an incredibly slow, deliberate pace (311th in tempo). They’re a good story, but based on the numbers, the Bison are looking at a quick extinction in Round 1. — Josh Appelbaum
- Record: 18-15
- Adj. Efficiency Rank: 203
- Adj. Offensive Efficiency Rank: 132
- Adj. Defensive Efficiency Rank: 277
- Tempo Rank: 311
All advanced metrics via KenPom as of Friday, March 15