Blue Devils vs Demon Deacons NCAAB Handicapping Prediction
Duke (25-4) has won 6 straight and they are getting closer to snagging a #1 seed in the Big Dance.
Venue/ Stadium: Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Winston-Salem, NC
Time/Date: 9 PM EST Tuesday, February 28, 2012
NCAA Odds From: Bovada
Moneyline: OFF
Spread (ATS): Duke -13.5
Over/Under: 144.5
No 3 Duke Blue Devils vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons Preview
Wake Forrest (13-15) is coming off a win and there is no way they will be dancing unless they pull off a shocker and win the ACC tournament. NCAAB lines have Duke as big 13.5-point away favorites with a total of 144.5.
In their last games Duke beat Virginia Tech 70-65 in OT and Wake Forrest beat Boston College 85-56.
This season Duke is 13-16 ATS with an O/U record of 18-11 and Wake Forrest is 13-11-1 ATS with an O/U record of 8-16-1.
Earlier this season at Duke the Blue Devils spanked the Demon Deacons being them by 18 points.
Duke has beaten Wake in 5 straight games and in the match up earlier this season they shot over 54% from he floor in the easy win. Wake is not a high scoring team ranking 230th in the nation in scoring so they will need to play good D to pull off the home upset. In their 4 losses facing ranked teams this season the Demon Deacons lost by an average of 20 ppg. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Duke is led by the G duo of Austin Rivers (15.5 ppg) and Seth Curry (13.6 ppg) and each has been playing well. Wake must get in these guys faces and not let them bomb away from deep, as each is solid in burying the 3.
Wake only ranks 270th in the nation in rebounds per game and will have to body up on the duo of Mason Plumlee (10.7 ppg 9.5 rpg) and Miles Plumlee (6.6 ppg 6.9 rpg) and not let them kill them on the glass. Travis McKie (15.9 ppg 7.1 rpg) and 7′ C Ty Walker (4.4 ppg 4.6 rpg) will be counted on to play good interior D and man the boards.
Wake leading scorer C.J. Harris (17 ppg) and McKie will have to provide most of the offense in this game and if they struggle the Demon Deacons will be in big trouble.
In some betting trends for this ACC game Duke is 6-0 ATS in their last 6 road games, 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, and they have an Under record of 7-3 in their last 10 games as a road favorite.
Wake Forrest is 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home underdog of 13.0 or greater, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record, and they have an Under record of 6-2 in their last 8 home games.
Jason’s Pick: Wake has won 2 of their last 3 games, but I think they will get killed tonight even though they are at home, as they do not match up well with Duke at all. Take Duke to win and cover tonight.
