NCAA Basketball Matchup: Duke vs Temple
Last year Temple visited Duke and was beaten 78-61. Now, it is the Blue Devils turn to travel to Philadelphia and take on the Owls.
NCAA Basketball Matchup: Duke Blue Devils vs. Temple Owls
7:00 PM EST
College Basketball Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
NCAA Basketball Betting Favorite: Duke -6.5
Over/Under: 150
Duke was embarrassed in their trip to Columbus earlier this year, but they haven’t lost another game all year. Temple is 9-3 this season, and they have yet to lose at home. This veteran Owls team should provide a tough test for the Blue Devils.
Duke has several guys who can put up big points on any given night. The team has four players averaging 40% or better from beyond the arc. Austin Rivers got off to a bit of a slow start, but he has been improving quite a bit in the last few weeks. Seth Curry is the team’s sharp shooter.
Curry knocks down 45.5% from three and 93% from the free throw line. Duke is averaging 82.8 points per game this year. The Plumlee brothers are solid inside, especially on the defensive end of the floor. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Overall, the Blue Devils have been giving up too many open looks this year. Duke’s opponents are scoring 68.4 points per game, a number Coach K certainly would like to see fall as the season progresses.
Temple started the season with a lot of frontcourt depth, but injuries to Scootie Randall and Michael Eric have really hurt this team. Juan Fernandez is a good leader at the point guard spot, but he continues to struggle, as he did last season, with his shooting form. Ramone Moore is the team’s leading scorer, but he is only shooting 39% from the floor. Khalif Wyatt has stepped up nicely for the Owls this year. The Owls have been great at guarding beyond the arc, but opponents have hurt this team in the paint this year. Temple will need to pick up the defensive intensity if they expect to pull off an upset here.
Look for both teams to put up quite a few points in this one. Duke should win, but I expect Temple to give them a tough game.
Prediction: Duke 81 Temple 74
