Tip off: Friday, 7:15 PM EST
Spread: DUK -12
Total: 148
M/L: DUK -1000, LEH +700
Bet at Bookmaker, the source of these college basketball betting odds
Lehigh
Lehigh posted both a great record and impressive stats this year, but then again, they were in the Patriot league.
Interesting to note is the fact that in their only matchup against a ranked opponent all year, #20 Michigan State, they hung tough, losing by only 9 in a high scoring affair.
The Mountain Hawks are led by high scoring junior guard C.J. McCollum. He puts up 21.9 points per game, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. He’s consistent and deadly from beyond the arc. He played well in pretty much every Lehigh game, and shoots 45.5% from the field on 16 attempts per game. He was very solid last year, putting up 21.8 per game, and he’s also a game changer defensively, as he has averaged over 2.5 steals both of the last two years. If Lehigh were to pull a monster upset, McCollum would be the main reason why.
Lehigh Betting Trends:
Lehigh is 7-1 ATS this season and 6-1 ATS in all tournament games. They are a perfect 8-0 ATS in March games and 6-0 ATS in non conference games. When the total is between 140 and 149.5, they are 8-0 ATS as well.
Duke
The second seeded Blue Devils finished with a 13-3 ACC record and were 13-2 out of conference, as they finished with the 11th best offense in the nation, with 78.7 points per game. They lost the regular season title to UNC on the 3rd, but had won 7 straight prior to that contest and that included a win over UNC on the Tar Heels’ home court.
The aforementioned backcourt of Duke leads the way offensively. Freshman Austin Rivers, son of legendary Celtics coach Doc Rivers, is leading the Blue Devils in scoring with 15.3 points per game, while hitting 38.3% form behind the arc. Seth Curry, brother of Golden State Warriors’ guard Stephen, son of NBA legendary gunner Dell, is putting up 13.5 points per game, as well, and the Blue Devils receive consistent contributions from a host of others, including Ryan Kelly (11.8 ppg), Mason Plumelee (11.0 ppg) and Andre Dawkins (9.0 ppg).
Plumlee, an athletic 6’10? power forward, has been moving up mock draft boards and could go as late as the late lottery in this year’s NBA Draft. He’s nearly averaging a double double to go with a block and a half a game, and he’s only getting better. He finishes well around the rim, moves well without the ball, and is good at finding the open man. Playing with great guards like Curry and Rivers has only accentuated his development and it should serve him well as he learns pick and roll tactics, a key part of NBA offenses. He has struggled on the boards the last two games, corralling only 11 in total, but has averaged 14.5 points per game over those two games, as well, slightly higher than his season average. His scoring has been the most inconsistent part of his game, but it will likely remain that way. Plumlee is a dyed in the wool role player.
Blue Devils Betting Trends:
Duke is 13-20 ATS this season and 12-18 ATS as a favorite. They are 6-11 ATS following conference games and 261-234 ATS since 1997. The total has gone OVER in 20 of the last 32 Duke games and 17 of the last 29 when Duke is favored.
