The ACC conference heats up with this showdown of proven teams. The Duke Blue Devils (17-6) will take on the No. 23 Miami Hurricanes (18-5) in a game that is sure to upset the standings. Don’t miss the action live on ESPN! Check Out Our College Basketball Odds series for our prediction and our choice Duke-Miami.
The Duke Blue Devils have had a mediocre season by their standards and are eager to get back into the top 25 in the standings. They are currently on a nice three-game winning streak, including a victory over their biggest rival North Carolina on Saturday. The Blue Devils have done well with conference play and are hoping to add a win over a ranked opponent to their resume.
The Miami Hurricanes are just one game behind Clemson for the ACC lead. At 9-4 in the conference, the Hurricanes find themselves in a slim race for the top of the standings. A win over Duke in this one would advance their position both in the standings and most likely the national standings. They are coming off two big wins, including beating Clemson at their own building, a huge statement sent to conference leaders.
Here are the Duke-Miami college basketball odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
College Basketball Odds: Duke-Miami Odds
Duke: +3.5 (-120)
Miami: -3.5 (-102)
More: 145.5 (-110)
Minus: 145.5 (-110)
How to watch Duke vs. Miami
Television: ESPN
Stream: fuboTV, ESPN app
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT
*Watch college basketball LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)*
Why Duke might cover the spread
The Duke Blue Devils have bowed defensively on the ball in their last three wins. They held Georgia Tech to 43 points and managed to pull off a tough 6-point win in college basketball’s biggest rivalry. Anytime the Blue Devils can beat the Tar Heels, it’s sure to be a confidence boost for this Duke team. Jeremy Roach will have to continue his great game and find Duke shooters on offense. Kyle Filipkowski will be waiting at the bottom to collect offensive rebounds as he will have a slight lag at the bottom.
While Duke remains undefeated in their arena, they struggled on the road with a 2-4 record. In those games, they went just 1-5 ATS. They certainly struggled to find good rhythms of shooting into opposing buildings. Overall, the Blue Devils haven’t done a good job covering the spread this season at 9-14. With a 3.5 point advantage, they will work at the underdogs here, a spot they have yet to earn this season. Duke will have to find shots early and prevent any consecutive Hurricanes lead.
Why Miami could cover the spread
Miami is playing a big brand of basketball this year. While many of their games have been close, the Hurricanes appear to be at their peak in the final 10 minutes of the game. They often play level with their opponent, but are able to flip a switch and score tough victories against tough opponents. Guard Nijel Pack has been a great facilitating scorer for the Hurricanes and will be looking to get some attention in this one, opening up opportunities for Norchad Omier in the paint. If Isaiah Wong can get hot in his building, Miami has the potential to pick up some points.
The Miami Hurricanes are 12-0 at home this season. They are 13-9 ATS overall this season, but have tied their home games 6-6 ATS. Considered the favorites in this one, they went 16-2 this season when they had the advantage at the betting lines. Bettors are predicting it will be close, so expect the Hurricanes to lock down again as this game draws to a close.
Prediction and choice of the Duke-Miami final
With a gap this close, the feeling is that this game will come down to the last possessions. While Duke has played well, Miami’s recent performances show they will be at their best, at home, and as this game reaches the final minutes. Let’s take the Hurricanes to cover this one.
Prediction and final choice Duke-Miami: Miami Hurricanes -3.5 (-102)
