Did the ACC schedule makers set up a trap game for 12th-ranked Duke Blue Devils today, when they visit the Virginia Tech Hokies?
The Blue Devils — who have won 10 or their last 11 games, overall — have lost two straight in Blacksburg, and five of their last six at Virginia Tech. All this with their next game against long-time rival North Carolina.
The Hokies have reeled off three straight wins to move to 5-4 in conference play, though they are still three-point home dogs in the college basketball odds.
Read below for my free Duke vs Virginia Tech college basketball picks, complete with a best bet, for Monday, January 29.
Duke vs Virginia Tech best odds
Duke vs Virginia Tech picks and predictions
Duke hasn’t been operating at peak levels of late, sneaking by Georgia Teach 84-79 before losing an 80-76 decision to Pitt, which snapped its eight-game winning streak. After topping Louisville 83-69, the Blue Devils barely escaped a 72-71 win over Clemson, needing a pair of Tyrese Proctor free throws with one second left to pull it out.
On the year, Duke ranks 12th in KenPom’s offensive efficiency metric, scoring 81.2 points per game, which ranks 36th in the NCAA. Overall, the Blue Devils shoot 47.9% from the field (37th).
They shoot the 3-ball with the best of ‘em, draining 38.1% of their attempts from distance — a Top-25 mark in the country.
We’re going to see if Virginia Tech can either contain that offense — the Hokies allow 68.2 points per game — or keep up. The Hokies attack isn't among the country's elite, posting 74.7 points per game to have them just inside the Top 200.
They are coming off their third-best scoring output of the season in a 91-67 demolition of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Before that win, they won a pair of close decisions: 76-71 over Boston College and 84-78 over NC State.
Those wins all came against lower-ranked teams in the ACC, while all four conference losses have come opposite teams slotted higher — Miami, Wake, Florida State, and Virginia.
The Hokies have seen the Over hit in two of their last three, while the Blue Devils have crossed the total in three of their last four, while the Over in this head-to-head has hit in four straight. With Virginia Tech a sparkling 10-1 at home on the year, averaging 79.9 points per game, this has the makings of another high-scoring matchup.
My best bet: Over 146 (-110 at DraftKings)
Duke vs Virginia Tech same-game parlay
Over 146
Jared McCain Under 11.5 points
Lynn Kidd Over 12.5 points
He’s been prominent with a pair of 20+ point outings in the last two games, but I’m not sure freshman guard Jared McCain can sustain that against the Hokies in hostile territory. His 21 points last game against Clemson and 20 against Pitt were both in the friendly confines of Cameron Indoor.
In four other ACC road games? McCain has averaged just 9.8 points and has crossed the 11.5-point line set for Monday just once when he scored 12 against Pitt.
McCain will still be needed to shake this current road funk at Cassell Coliseum, but I think his numbers crash back to around his 12.5-point season average.
We’ll complete this three-legged SGP with senior big man Lynn Kidd, who will have to hold his own against Duke’s sophomore big Kyle Filipowski for the Hokies to be successful.
He’s entering this game on a very solid streak, averaging 16.5 points on a crisp 65.4% shooting across VaTech’s three wins. Kidd has crossed his scoring line three times in the last five games.
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Duke vs Virginia Tech spread and Over/Under analysis
This line has stayed solid at Duke -3.5 at most books, with a few sites keeping it at a three-point spread. Both schools have hovered around the .500 mark against the spread. Duke is 9-10-0 ATS and has failed to cover in four straight, and in five of its last six.
The Hokies are right there with the Blue Devils, running 9-10-1 ATS, though they are 2-0-1 ATS during their win streak.
The total hasn’t dipped below 146 points, with lines available up to 147.5 points.
VT has an Over record of 9-10-1, while Duke has gone Over the total 10 times in their 19 games.
Duke vs Virginia Tech betting trend to know
Virginia Tech has hit the Over in 19 of their last 34 games. Find more college basketball betting trends for Duke vs. Virginia Tech.
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Duke vs Virginia Tech game info
| Location: | Cassell Coliseum, Blacksburg, VA |
| Date: | Monday, January 29, 2024 |
| Tip-off: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN |
Duke vs Virginia Tech key injuries
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