Duke Vs. Virginia Tech: Predictions, Odds, Best Bets (1/29/24)
Duke vs. Virginia Tech tips off this Monday (1/29/24) at 7:00pm EST in Blacksburg, VA as a home game for the Hokies. Get Duke vs. Virginia Tech predictions and best bets below as our best bet is on Virginia Tech team total over 71.5 as their offense takes advantage of a reeling Duke defense.
Duke Vs. Virginia Tech Prediction
After a controversial win against Clemson, the Duke Blue Devils hit the road to battle the Virginia Tech Hokies. Duke currently qualifies as a potential national champion per Kenpom historic metrics, yet their reeling defense may bump them out after this game should they continue to let opposing offenses score at will.
That spells potential doom for Duke’s postseason outlook as they take on the white-hot Virginia Tech Hokies who have been running as one of the best shooting units in the league lately. In their last three contests, Virginia Tech boasts an Effective Field Goal Percentage of 61.6% per TeamRankings. That includes their latest contest against Georgia Tech, winning 91-67 with an Effective Field Goal Percentage of 65.5%.
Virginia Tech has maintained their offensive identity that has given them success over the years, excelling at spacing out opposing defenses with lethal perimeter shooting. Not only can they knock down the three at a high rate, but this also gives their slashers higher quality looks at the rim by exploiting the gaps in coverage.
Duke’s defense has slipped to 37th in AdjD per Kenpom and has failed to show any signs of improvement over the past few games. Duke already struggles to defend the three as they allow opposing offenses to shoot 34.1% from deep, now having to try and cover one of the hottest shooting units in the nation. Expect Virginia Tech to benefit from Duke being in a tough schedule spot, using their perimeter prowess to open up more looks in the interior and allow for more consistency in their scoring efforts.
Duke Vs. Virginia Tech Prediction: Virginia Tech team total over 71.5
Duke Vs. Virginia Tech Best Odds
Even with Duke looking as beatable as ever this season, oddsmakers still lean towards their favor on the road by opening the Blue Devils as a -3.5 favorite. Bettors slightly lean towards the Hokies favor, backing Virginia Tech down to +3 in some shops. Virginia Tech’s spread is also worth a wager as they will set a scoring pace too fast for Duke to keep up with.
As for the total, points are expected to be scored at a moderate pace as oddsmakers opened the number at 147. Bettors believe points will come at a slightly slower pace, backing the under down to 146.5 as of writing. The total will be heavily predicated on Duke as Virginia Tech should continue their offensive onslaught, making the full game total a pass.
Duke Vs. Virginia Tech Key Matchups
Who wins the battle of the bigs when Lynn Kidd gets the ball down low against Kyle Filipowski? Check out the key matchups that will decide Duke vs. Virginia Tech.
Lynn Kidd vs. Kyle Filipowski
It wasn’t exactly a career scoring day for Kyle Filipowski in their last game against Clemson as he finished the contest scoring just nine points. More worrisome, perhaps, his defense failed to show up as well as Clemson’s big man PJ Hall led the team with 19 points.
– ➡️ Lynn Kidd, @HokiesMBB
Scored a career-high 31 points in the win over American
Hit his first 9 shots of the game, finishing with 14 field goals made – the most by an ACC player in a single game this season— ACC Men’s Basketball (@accmbb) December 26, 2023
Filipowski now finds himself in another tough spot as he draws Lynn Kidd as his defensive assignment in this contest. Lynn is the Hokies second leading scorer by averaging 14 points a game, dealing all his damage inside the arc. Kidd benefits from plenty of singular coverage as his guards stretch out the defense, now getting a passive Filipowski who looks clearly less than 100%. Expect Kidd to maintain his aggressiveness, turning his scoring opportunities into points with high quality looks at the rim.
North Carolina Sports Betting Update
North Carolina sports betting is currently legal with online sportsbook operators set to go live noon EST on March 11th. Individuals can also sign up during the pre-registration period starting on March 1st and claim additional new user bonuses. Once sports betting is live and up and running, North Carolina residents will be able to take advantage of new user bonuses like a 20% deposit match offer of up to $1,000 in bonus bets from DraftKings North Carolina and a $1,000 first bet on Caesars from Caesars North Carolina to wager on their favorite in-state teams.
For up-to-date North Carolina sports betting coverage — including the best new user promo codes — check out the “NC Sports Betting” tab on Lineups.
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