College Basketball Best Bet: Expect Duke to Bounce Back

College Basketball Best Bet: Expect Duke to Bounce Back

We haven't gone to the ACC in a while so let's go to Virginia tonight and see if Coach K in his last trip to Virginia can pull out a big win. Duke would love to win the ACC for Coach K in his last year and they only have a one game lead over surprising Notre Dame so they can't afford to lose one and Coach K knows it.

They are only thinking of Virginia because we all know how the last one ended as there was only one basket in the last 90 seconds, a Reece Beekman three from the corner with three seconds left after they stole the ball. Duke has four losses this year totaling nine points as three of them were by a bucket or less and this one was and will be remembered for a long time. 

Click here for Duke vs Virginia odds

Duke vs Virginia Prediction

Duke we all know is a top team currently seventh in the country but only a three-seed according to projections in the tournament. It's hard to believe that they don't get a 1-2 seed if they win the ACC and don't lose again this year.

Duke hasn't lost since that Virginia game and with the schedule the way it is, has a chance to not lose again this regular season. Officially this is Virginia's third game against a ranked opponent so they have not beaten anyone other than Duke at the buzzer as the other opponent was Houston who they lost to by 20 points.

Click here for the best free offers in your state

They have played other teams that are currently ranked and split those as well with Iowa and Providence. We all know one thing. Virginia shot 2-12 from the 3-point line last meeting, of course, the one that won it but they are 11-55 in the last four games including Duke and that is already well below their 270th ranked 3-point shooting this year at 32%.

The 3-point shooting will be the key to this game because Virginia defensively gives up over 34% good for 230th in the country (good meaning bad obviously or awful), while Duke shoots almost 37% good for 46th in the country and is 26th defensively giving up less than 30%. Pretty much the same as last game but this game two 3-pointers won't win it for the Cavs, we guarantee that. 

 Claim your risk-free $1000 bet here

We spoke about the 3's but Duke is also scoring over 80 points a game good for 16th in the country while Virginia is 333 at 63.4 a game clearly one of the worst and the worst of all the big schools in the country. Virginia's defense is always great but so is Duke's and when you score 17 more a game things happen.

In the last game, what happened was Virginia got 13 more shots even though they had less rebounds. You might be saying how did that happen? It was turnovers that killed Duke and Coach K will not tolerate turnovers especially not from his star player. Banchero will have to step it up and dominate today as Virginia really doesn't have anyone to guard him. This game means a lot to Duke and the way the last one ended we feel Duke will come out and play one of their best games of the year as they have won three out of the four by double digits and the other one they blew a double-digit lead against Wake Forest but still pulled it out. 

This series has been dominated by the road team. Virginia does not really have any impressive wins other than Duke and they shouldn't have won that game as Duke only scored four points in the last four minutes of the game.

Duke is the best offense in the ACC and Virginia is not the best defense or a great defense at all this year. Mark Williams is shooting 80% this month and with him and all the other weapons, Duke will not end this one sloppy like last time. For those who actually read the articles, Duke's Team Total that is up there tonight has won 18 out of the last 19 on this number and only two times all year did they not score 67 and that was Notre Dame and Ohio St when they scored 66.

Duke gets their 67 tonight and Duke gets the W.  Lay the 5, we are getting even money at Bet Rivers as we play this game. Duke wins tonight, the ACC is theirs, and we chalk up another W.

Duke vs. Virginia Line Movement

Duke vs. Virginia Pick

• Pick: Duke -5 (-110) (Bet $110 to win $100)