Two ACC powerhouses collide this Saturday at Cameron Indoor Stadium, as the Virginia Cavaliers, who have won their last seven games, pay the Duke Blue Devils a visit for the first time this season. Expect this matchup to go straight down the wire especially with both programs looking to extend their respective winning streaks. Who will reign supreme in this one?
Read on below for a detailed breakdown of this showdown. And while you’re at it, you might as well check out our other previews of: UCLA Bruins vs. Arizona Wildcats and Louisville Cardinals vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Virginia Cavaliers vs. Duke Blue Devils Preview
Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, North Carolina
When: Saturday, February 13, 4:30 PM ET
Line: Virginia Cavaliers vs. Duke Blue Devils– view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Virginia Cavaliers (20-4, 9-3 ACC)
The Virginia Cavaliers seem to be playing better and better throughout each game. They head into this matchup with a lot of momentum thanks to their current seven-game winning streak. In that span, the Cavaliers have resoundingly beaten their foes by an average margin of 11.1 points and are scoring almost 70 points per contest.Malcolm Brogdon is the main reason for this success, as he has been consistently lighting up the scoreboard across 24 games this season. He boasts a team-best of 17.7 points to go along with 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 dimes while committing just 1.5 turnovers per game.
Furthermore, the pair of Anthony Gill and London Perrantes should be able to give the Cavaliers some more firepower. Both are posting double-figures in points this season with 14.3 and 11.1 points respectively. Perrantes, in particular, will really need to knock down some threes to help stretch the floor further. He currently leads the team in three-point shooting at 53.4 percent.
On defense, meanwhile, Virginia will have its hands full against the Duke Blue Devils, who are averaging 84.3 points this season. But it’s safe to say that the Cavaliers won’t be intimidated at all by this as they’ve been able to hold their previous four opponents below 51 points.
Virginia is 5-5 SU and 3-7 ATS in its last 10 road games.
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Betting on the Duke Blue Devils (18-6, 7-4 ACC)
All of the Duke Blue Devils’ losses last month have turned out to be blessings in disguise, as they seem to finally understand what it takes to win games.
The Blue Devils have won their previous three contests and are fresh off a huge win over No. 13 Louisville on Monday night, 75-62. The pair of Grayson Allen and Brandon Ingram starred in that contest by leading the offense with 19 and 18 points respectively. But both might be forced to rely on their other teammates for some scoring since they’ll be up against the No. 7 Virginia Cavaliers, who are allowing just 59.6 points this season.
That said, the pressure is on Luke Kennard and Matt Jones to make their presence felt from the get go. Kennard, in particular, should have a better chance in doing so, as he’s finished withe double-figure scoring in three of his last five games. Through 24 games, he is posting 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists.
Jones, meanwhile, is contributing 11.6 points, 2.8 boards and 2.7 dimes in the same stretch. But he’s been limited below 10 points in each of his past three outings.
Duke is 7-3 SU and 5-5 ATS in its past 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Duke wins it, 74-72.
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