#4 Duke Blue Devils at Boston College Eagles
Silvio O. Conte Forum – Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Sunday, February 19, 2012, 6:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPNU
Opening Line: Duke -15 1/2
Current Line: Duke -15
Opening Total: 139 1/2
Current Total: 137
Opening Money Line: Duke -1500 / BC +1025
Current Money Line: Duke -1450 / BC +1020
Duke is in a three way battle with North Carolina and Florida St for the ACC title. With both teams winning yesterday to move to 10-2 in the conference, 9-2 Duke can’t afford to stumble against lowly Boston College. Duke is 22-4 overall and ranked #4 in the country. Boston College is 8-18 overall, and 3-9 in conference. Duke has won 3 straight games including 78-73 at home against North Carolina St Thursday night. Boston College has lost 8 of their last 9 games, including at Maryland 81-65 Thursday night. The only win for the Eagles recently came at home over Florida St a couple of weeks ago. Duke leads the all time series against Boston College 13-2. Duke has won 4 straight in the series. This is the only regular season meeting between the teams.
Duke is coached Mike Krzyzewski. The Blue Devils have losses to Ohio St, Temple, Florida St and Miami-FL. Duke has wins over Michigan St,Davidson, Tennessee, Michigan, Kansas, Colorado St, Washington, Penn, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Clemson, Wake Forest, Maryland twice, St. John’s, Virginia Tech, and North Carolina.
Boston College is coached by Steve Donahue. The Eagles have wins over UC-Riverside, Clemson, and Virginia Tech. BC has losses to Holy Cross, UMass, St. Louis, New Mexico, Penn St, Bradley, Providence, Harvard, Rhode Island, Wake Forest, North Carolina, NC State twice, Virginia, Miami, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech.
Duke is outscoring opponents 80-69 this season. Duke is #11 in scoring nationally. The Blue Devils shoot 47.1% from the field, including 38.6% from 3 point range. The Blue Devils make 69.4% of their free throws. Duke averages 36.5 rebounds a game, and has a rebounding margin of +2.7. Duke averages 13 assists and 12.2 turnovers a game. The Blue Devils average 6.6 steals and 4.2 blocks a game. Duke opponents are shooting 43.8% from the field including 31.2% from 3 point range. Duke forces 13.4 turnovers a game.
Duke has 4 players scoring in double digits. Austin Rivers averages 15 points to lead the team, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. He makes 39.8% from 3 point range. Seth Curry averages 13.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.4 steals a game. Curry leads the Blue Devils in assists and steals and is shooting 38.7% from 3 point range. Curry is probable with an ankle injury. Ryan Kelly averages 12.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1.1 blocks a game. He makes 41% of his three point attempts. Mason Plumlee averages 11.5 points, 9.9 rebounds to lead the team, 1.9 assists, and 1.6 blocks a game to lead the team. Andre Dawkins and Miles Plumlee also score significant points for the Devils.
Boston College is being outscored 68-60 this season. The Eagles are shooting 41% from the field and 33.9% from 3 point range. BC makes 68.9% of their free throws. The Eagles average 29.9 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of -5.7. BC averages 11.5 assists, 14.6 turnovers, 4.9 steals, and 3.1 blocks a game. Eagle opponents are shooting 43.2% from the field and 33.5% from 3 point range. The Eagles force 12 turnovers a game.
BC forward Ryan Anderson averages 10.4 points to lead the team, 6.4 rebounds to lead the team, and 1.1 assists a game. Matt Humphrey averages 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1 steal a game to lead the team. Dennis Clifford averages 9.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks a game to lead the team. Guard Patrick Heckmann averages 9.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists a game. He has missed the last 7 games with mononucleosis and is out indefinitely. Lonnie Jackson averages 8.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.9 steals a game. He makes 41.7% of his 3 point attempts. Jordan Daniels averages 6.2 points and 2.4 assists a game to lead the team.
Boston College is 12-8 ATS and the total is 7-13 this season. Duke is 11-15 ATS and the total is 17-9 this season. BC is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 games against Duke, and the over is 8-3 in the last 11. The Blue Devils are 4-0 ATS in road games, and as a road favorite of 13 points or more, 4-1 after failing to cover, 5-2 in Sunday games, 10-4 as a favorite of 13 points or more, 7-3 as a road favorite, 13-6 against teams with losing records, and 2-5 after a straight up win. The Eagles are 5-1 ATS as an underdog of 13 points or more, 9-2 after failing to cover, and as an underdog, 4-1 as a home underdog, overall, and in ACC games, 8-3 against teams with winning records, and 3-7 in Sunday games.
With a huge showdown at Florida St looming this week for Duke, the Blue Devils might overlook Boston College. They shouldn’t, because although the Eagles are a young team with 9 freshmen on the roster, they upset the Seminoles at home a couple of weeks ago. The same thing could happen to the Blue Devils if they aren’t careful. I don’t think Coach K will let that happen. Duke should roll in this game.
