Tip off: 7 PM EST
Spread: DUKE -8.5
Total: 136
M/L: DUKE -425, VaTE +355
Bet at Bookmaker, the source of these college basketball betting odds
Virginia Tech
The Hokies (4-12 ACC) were able to pull an upset over the Clemson Tigers (8-8 ACC) last night. The Hokies outscored Clemson 38 to 28 in the second half, erasing a five point halftime defect to win by five. They went on a 9-0 run late in the game, keyed by point guard Erick Green, who put up 24 points. Green is averaging 15.3 points per game and sees 34.4 minutes of burn per night. Dorenzo Hudson contributed 19 points as well.
The game was redemption for Va Tech after losing to Clemson in their regular season meeting — and, it snapped a four game losing streak.
Duke blew out the Hokies when they faced them on the 2nd of February, winning by 15 on Virginia Tech’s home court. In the losing effort, three Hokies scored 16 points: Green, Hudson, and forward Cadarian Raines. They allowed Duke’s backcourt of Seth Curry and Austin Rivers go bonkers and combine for 42 points, but they do that against everyone. I don’t expect things to be much different tonight, and neither do college basketball oddsmakers, as they have set the spread at 8.5 points in Duke’s favor.
Hokies Betting Trends:
Last Five M/L: 3-2-1
Last Five Total: 3 U, 2 O
Average Total: 127.7
Duke
The sixth ranked 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:
M/L: 3-2
Total: OVER in 3 of last 5
Avg Total: 147.8
