Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Duke Blue Devils Predictions, Picks and Preview – March 4, 2015

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are virtually out of the running for an at-large bid in the upcoming National Tournament. But if they are to make an improbable championship run in the ACC Tournament— and clinch an auto-bid—then a win in their upcoming matchup with No. 2 Duke Blue Devils will be a huge momentum booster for Wake Forest.

For more high-end college basketball action, check out our preview of Wisconsin vs. Minnesota, and read on for more on this ACC clash.
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Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Duke Blue Devils Betting Preview

Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham

When: Wednesday, March 4, 8:00 PM ET

Line: Wake Forest Demon Deacons (+17.5) vs. Duke Blue Devils (-17.5) – view all NCAA Basketball lines

Betting on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons

After getting blown to bits in a 70-34 loss to No. 2 Virginia on February 25, Wake Forest regrouped and ended a three-game skid by beating the Pittsburgh Panthers on Sunday, 69-66. Wake Forest doesn’t have much time to celebrate that win, though, as looming on the horizon is a rematch with previous tormentor No. 2 Duke.

[sc:NCAAB240banner ]Wake Forest got a taste of Duke’s wrath early this year, when it suffered a 73-65 loss to the Blue Devils. Despite the loss, Wake Forest managed to bring home a few positive takeaways, among which was its seemingly effective job of containing Jahlil Okafor. By constantly doubling Okafor on defense, Wake Forest limited the Duke star to just 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting. Expect Wake Forest to run the same defensive scheme again this coming Wednesday.

Wake Forest can also use to its advantage Okafor’s pathetic form at the free throw line. Okafor is shooting just 52.5 percent from the charity stripe, and his going 1-of-7 in Duke’s recent win over Syracuse surely did nothing to deter the Demon Deacons from playing him rough. Okafor went 4-of-8 from the free throw line in the first meeting with Wake Forest.

On offense, Wake Forest will bank on the production of the tandem of Codi Miller-McIntyre and Devin Thomas. Miller-McIntyre, who scored 13 points in the Pittsburgh game, is the team’s leading scorer with 13.7 PPG. The lefty Thomas, meanwhile, is putting up 12.2 PPG and a team-best 9.1 RPG. Thomas was near unstoppable in the first game with Duke, pouring in 24 points on 12-of-20 shooting in a losing effort.

Wake Forest is 6-1 ATS in its last seven games against Duke.

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Betting on the Duke Blue Devils

Behind Justise Winslow’s season-high 23 points, Duke rolled into its ninth-straight victory as the Blue Devils defeated the Syracuse Orange, 73-54, on Saturday.

On the heels of another great performance, Winslow is primed to go off again against Wake Forest. In the Blue Devils’ win over the Demon Deacons back in January, Winslow led the Dukies with 20 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. After a big game against Syracuse, Winslow has now averaged 19.3 PPG over Duke’s last three games.

Duke can put to test Wake Forest’s suspect interior defense that has allowed opponents to convert 61.6% of their attempts at the rim. Of course, Jahlil Okafor will be at the forefront of Duke’s inside attacks, with the projected No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft averaging 18.2 PPG and 9.6 RPG. Okafor scored 13 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in the game against Syracuse.

Should Wake Forest continue to throw an extra-defender at Okafor, Duke’s shooters must be ready for kick out passes coming from the big man. Duke is making 7.6 three-pointers per game on 38.7% shooting. The Blue Devils weren’t as accurate from beyond the arc against Syracuse, though, going just 8-of-23 for a 34.8% conversion rate.

Quin Cook, Justise Winslow, and Tyus Jones are Duke’s top sharpshooters, with each player burying at least 35 triples this season. Cook, who scored 12 points in the first meeting with Wake Forest, is shooting 40.3% from the three-point region, while Winslow and Jones have made 39.3% and 38.3% of their threes, respectively.

Dating back to 2004, Duke is 10-0 SU and 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games as the home team against Wake Forest.

Writer’s Prediction

Duke wins, 80-67.
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