Virginia Cavaliers vs. Duke Blue Devils

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Duke (-11)
Game Total Line: (128.5)
(wagering lines available at Betonline)

The Virginia Cavaliers and the Duke Blue Devils clash this Thursday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium in a showdown between two of the top teams in the ACC. The game is slated to tip-off at 9 p.m. (ET) and it will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

Virginia has been an early surprise contender in the ACC with a sterling 14-1 record straight-up and a profitable 7-3 record against the spread. Its current winning streak reached 12 games with a tight 52-51 victory over Miami (FLA) last Saturday as a 7.5-point home favorite. The total has stayed ‘under’ in nine of its 10 games with a posted line.

The Cavaliers are only averaging 65.7 points and 33.9 rebounds a game, which is ranked in the near the bottom of Division I, but defensively they have been superb by holding their opponents to just 50.5 points a game, which is the second lowest total in the nation. Mike Scott has also been a big reason for Virginia’s success with a team-high 16.5 points and 8.9 rebounds a game. He is shooting 59.6 percent from the field and 79.5 percent from the free-throw line.

Duke is off to its usual strong start with a 13-2 record SU, but it has been no bargain ATS at 6-9. The total has gone ‘over’ in 10 of its 15 games. It comes into this matchup fresh-off an 81-74 win over Georgia Tech as an 11.5-point road favorite in last Saturday’s ACC opener. This followed a shocking 78-73 loss to Temple as a 7.5-point road favorite.

The Blue Devils have had little problem putting the ball in the hoop this season with an average of 82.1 points a game while shooting 49.8 percent from the floor. There are four players scoring in double-figures led by Austin Rivers’ 14.7 points. Seth Curry is averaging 12.9 points and Mason Plumlee is chipping-in 11.7 points a game while leading the team in rebounds with 9.8 a game.

The Cavaliers are 15-3 ATS in their last 18 road games and 7-2 ATS in their last nine games overall. The total has stayed ‘under’ in their last four games on the road.

The Blue Devils are 5-2 ATS in their last seven home games. The total has gone ‘over’ in 10 of their last 14 games at home and in 12 of their last 17 games overall.

Head-to-head in this series, Virginia is 2-5 ATS in the last seven meetings overall, but 8-2-1 ATS in its last 11 road games against Duke. The road team is 12-3-1 ATS in the last 16 meetings and the total has stayed ‘under’ in five of the last seven meetings at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Against the Spread Game Pick

Stick with the recent series trends in this one especially with Virginia playing at such a high level.
Take the Virginia Cavaliers +11 at Bovada