A tough test awaits the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (+100,000 to win the national title) this coming weekend, as they are on a collision course with No. 2 Duke Blue Devils (+180). The Yellow Jackets have zero wins against ranked teams this season, but could a miracle happen this Saturday and hand them their first top 25 victory at the expense of Duke? Or will the Blue Devils pound Georgia Tech and beat it beyond recognition?
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Betting Preview for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Duke Blue Devils College Basketball Game on January 26, 2019
Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham
When: Saturday, January 26, 2019, 12:00 PM ET
Line: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (odds) vs. Duke Blue Devils (odds) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (10-8 Overall / 2-3 Conference)
Missing three of its best players, the Yellow Jackets were bound for doom in their most recent outing as of this writing, as they lost to the Louisville Cardinals at home last Sunday, 79-51. Guard Jose Alvarado was out in that game with an injury. The same was the case for Abdoulaye Gueye, while another guard, Brandon Alston, had to deal with a personal issue. Needless to say, Georgia Tech needs all hands on deck in Saturday’s meeting with national powerhouse Duke, otherwise, the Yellow Jackets are likely going to get steamrolled again. The status of the aforementioned trio for the date with the Blue Devils will likely get a clear update on Tuesday, when Georgia Tech hosts the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. If at least one those three players can’t give it a go, expect James Banks III to get an uptick in his usage. Banks paced the Yellow Jackets in the Louisville game with 24 points on an efficient 9-for-17 shooting for Georgia Tech, which is 18th in the nation defensively with just 63.6 points allowed per game.
Georgia Tech is 6-1 against the spread (ATS) in its last seven road games.
Betting on the Duke Blue Devils (15-2 Overall / 4-1 Conference)
Duke passed a big test over the weekend, defeating No. 4 Virginia Cavaliers at home, 72-70. The Blue Devils have a date with the Pittsburgh Panthers on the road, before trekking back to Durham to play the Yellow Jackets. Whatever happens in the Pittsburgh game, Duke is definitely going to be the huge favorite to win against the Yellow Jackets, who have had zero success opposite the Blue Devils for quite a long time now. In fact, Duke is 11-0 SU in its last 11 matchups with the Yellow Jackets, dating back to 2010. The Blue Devils also covered the spread eight time out of those 12 games. Duke beat the Cavaliers even without the services of star freshman guard Tre Jones, who is still nursing an injured shoulder. Jones is reportedly doubtful for the Panthers game, so that’s not a good sign with his regards to his availability for the tilt with Georgia Tech. Nevertheless, Duke has the pair of RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson, who should be in the NBA instead of pummeling fellow college kids on the court. Barrett scored 30 point against Virginia, while Williamson had 27.
Duke, which is 6-3 ATS in its last nine home games, is averaging 89.2 points per contest.
Writer’s Prediction
Duke wins and covers, 80-59.
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