College Basketball on Thursday and we will see the Duke Blue Devils travel to Charlottesville, Virginia to take on the Virginia Cavaliers. The game is scheduled for an 9:00 pm (Eastern) start time and will be televised on ESPN. Currently the Odds for the game have Virginia favored by 1 point while the total sits at 129.
Analysis: Mike Krzyzewski's Blue Devils have won two straight and eight of their last nine games, but despite a stellar 24-3 overall record, Duke sits two games behind league-leading Miami in the conference standings with four to play. Duke made light work of Boston College this past weekend in Durham, 89-68 to move to 11-3 in-conference. The Blue Devils have shown some weakness on the road this year at just 4-3 in true road games and will certainly be put to the test by the Cavaliers. The Blue Devils put Boston College away early on, netting 51 points in the first half en route to a lopsided win. Overall, Duke delivered on 53.8 percent from the floor and was a solid 26-of-33 from the free-throw line as well. A dangerous offensive squad, Duke is delivering on 47.6 percent of its shots overall, including 41.6 percent from behind the arc (fourth nationally). The result is a squad that ranks eighth nationally in scoring at 78.9 ppg. Plumlee and Curry are as potent an inside/out combo as there is in the country. The 6- foot-10 Plumlee has really made a huge leap in terms of production in his first season as the go-to-guy for Duke, averaging team-highs of 17.5 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, while shooting just under 60 percent from the floor. Curry lets it fly from beyond the arc at a .437 clip (15th nationally), as he pours in 16.8 ppg. Duke has won eight straight and 17 of the past 18 meetings.
Virginia is a dangerous team that has won 15 straight in Charlottesville and is an impressive 16-1 in its own building this season. Tony Bennett's team is fueled by strong defensive principles and that has led to a 19-8 overall record, including a 9-5 league record, good for a third-place tie with North Carolina. The Cavaliers ended a two-game slide with an emphatic 82-54 drubbing of Georgia Tech last weekend. One of the top defensive teams in the entire country, Virginia comes into this matchup allowing just 54.0 ppg (fourth nationally), as foes are shooting just .385 from the field (19th nationally). The offensive numbers are a bit modest at 65.0 ppg, although the team is shooting a healthy .466 from the floor overall. Junior guard Joe Harris is a big reason for that efficiency, as he is delivering on just under 50 percent from the floor overall, including a ridiculous .464 from 3-point range (64-of-138), ranking fourth in the conference with 16.6 ppg. Akil Mitchell (12.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg) gives the team balance in the frontcourt, but is the only over Cavalier averaging more than 7.0 ppg.
Pick: Virginia's offense has taken off as they have averaged 74 ppg in their last 6 games, putting up 73 points or more in 5 of those games. Now they face a Duke squad that allows 72 ppg on 49.3% shooting on the road. Duke's defense has really not been that great overall of late as they have allowed 68.9 ppg in their last 8 games. Clearly I expect 65+ from the Cavs in this one. I also expect at least that much from a duke squad that has averaged 78.9 ppg on the year and 74.9 ppg on the road. Yes Virginia allows 47.8 ppg at home, but I do expect a Duke squad that has put up 77 ppg in their last 5 road games, to crack his tough defense tonight. Virginia games have been faster paced of late and Duke will run right with them. I look for at least 135 points in this one.
College Basketball Free Picks: Duke at Virginia Betting
What college basketball bettors need to know about Duke Blue Devils at Virginia Cavaliers on Thursday (2/28/13) - a free pick from Pregame.com's Steve Fezzik, with Brian Leonard.