Duke-Northwestern Bet to Watch: Can Blue Devils Duplicate 2017 Domination?

Duke at Northwestern Betting Odds

• Spread: Northwestern -2.5
• Over/Under: 47.5
• Time: 12 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPNU

Despite 70% of bettors backing Northwestern in this game, it's come off the key number of -3 and down to Wildcats -2.5.

Duke smoked Northwestern last season, 41-17, while outgaining it 538-191.

The Action Network power ratings have Duke 32nd in the country and 4.5 points better on a neutral field, so the Blue Devils should probably be a small favorite in this game.

Trend to Know

Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald has been on of the most profitable coaches to the under in college football, especially early.

Since 2006, games coached by Fitzgerald in September have gone under at a 32-15 mark, good for +14.7 units and a win rate of 68%.

Duke-Northwestern Bet to Watch

Northwestern got outgained last week but pulled out the victory against Purdue thanks in part to three turnovers. Pat Fitzgerald's group left that game with a yard-per-play differential of -1.57.

It's hard to win many games with a negative differential, and it's even tougher to do while going 6-for-18 on third down.

Duke was a different story in Week 1, avenging a 2017 loss to Army. The Blue Devils sold out to stop the run, leaving themselves vulnerable to a few big pass plays. But they still finished with a nearly plus-2 yard-per-play average for the game.

The offense should have an easier time up front, as Northwestern will be without two defensive tackles. Take the points with the Dukies and add them to all round-robin moneyline parlays.

Play On: Duke +3