Madison Square Garden is the stage for tonight's non-conference clash between the Bears and Blue Devils. The Bears tasted defeat on Saturday after Michigan State staged an 88-64 upset, while the Blue Devils are in a winning mood after taking care of Hofstra Pride in their last game with 89-68.
Both squads embrace a balance of young talent and veteran experience, as much as college players can qualify as veterans. Duke is a 2-point favorite going into this showdown according to odds offered by bookie apps. Let’s preview the upcoming show at the Mecca of basketball.
Duke Plans to Expand Its Winning Streak
After suffering two losses in a row, the Blue Devils have bounced back and secured two wins against Charlotte and Hofstra. The focal point of Duke’s offense remains center Kyle Filipowski, with 18.4 points per game and 9.2 rebounds per contest. Filipowski should have a good night, considering the Bears allow 55.9% of points scored against them to come from the paint.
Another player getting into a rhythm is Jeremy Roach, netting at least 18 hoops in five consecutive games. One key player on the offense questionable for tonight's game is sophomore guard Tyrese Proctor, recovering from a leg injury.
Duke ranks 21st in the nation, and averages 81.6 points per game while conceding 66.1 points per night. As a team, the Blue Devils shoot 48.5% from the field and 36.9% from beyond the arc. Duke outscores opponents by 15.5 points and has a +155 scoring differential.
Baylor Dominates From The Third Point Line
The Bears were undefeated until they faced Michigan State, and the big question is if that loss signals the start of a slump or if it's just a small bump in the road. What’s not encouraging is Ja'Kobe Walter’s drop in field goal efficiency. The guard is shooting with 43% efficiency in five consecutive games, and yet is the best scorer with 14.3 points per game. The slack in the offense is covered by Ray J Dennis, with 13.9 points per game, and a 54% field goal efficiency.
Collectively, this team scores 88.4 points per game and allows 69.6 points per contest. The overall shooting efficiency is solid at 51.7% from the field, and 42.1% for three points, enabling the team to rank 1st nationally in three-point efficiency. Despite some players slightly struggling this season, Baylor tends to outscore opponents by 18.8 points per contest and has a +188 scoring differential.
Betting Prediction
Baylor ranks higher than Duke, but took advantage of an easier schedule early in the season, while the Blue Devils appear like a more battle-tested team. The best betting sites with free bets offer -135 odds for a moneyline bet on Duke, and +114 odds on Baylor for the same bet.
The 2-point spread revives -110 odds for both teams to cover. And this season Baylor and Duke have had mixed results against the spread. The total is 154.5 points, with -110 odds on both teams to cover. The Blue Devils have better defensive stats, and the offense can dominate under the rim, making Duke a justifiable favorite for this showdown.
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