Duke Blue Devils vs Syracuse Orange Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Duke vs Syracuse NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Syracuse.

Duke vs Syracuse Prediction

The Blue Devils and Orange are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN2. The Orange will host the game at JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, NY. Duke come into this Atlantic Coast conference matchup as the -18.5 favorite. The over/under line currently sits at 143 points.

Duke vs. Syracuse Matchup At A Glance

  • Sport: NCAAB
  • Teams: Duke Blue Devils at Syracuse Orange
  • Where: Syracuse at JMA Wireless Dome
  • Date: Wednesday, February 5th
  • Betting Odds DUKE -18.5, DUKE -3000 | SYRA +1200 O/U 143

Blue Devils Preview: Will Duke Win on the Road?

Duke improved to 19-2 on the season with an 87-70 win over North Carolina on Saturday. The Blue Devils were -13.5 favorites going into the game and covered the spread. The total points for the game were 157, surpassing the over/under line of 148.5.

Duke took control early, leading 47-25 at halftime. While they scored 40 points in the second half, they allowed 45 points, which is something they’ll want to tighten up moving forward.

Blue Devils Offense Breakdown

Duke's offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 87 points on 52.8% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 62.3%, thanks in part to hitting 50% from beyond the arc, connecting on 10 of 20 attempts. They were also strong at the free-throw line, making 21 of 25 for 84%.

Kon Knueppel led the way with 22 points and 5 assists, shooting 63.6% from the field. Cooper Flagg contributed 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, hitting 3 of 5 from three-point range. The Blue Devils dished out 20 assists as a team, with 7 offensive rebounds.

Blue Devils Team Defense

Despite Duke's defensive efforts, they allowed 70 points on 52% shooting from the field. The opposing team connected on 18 of their 33 two-point attempts, shooting 54% inside the arc.

From three-point range, Duke's defense gave up 10 threes on 20 attempts, with the other team shooting 50%. They also sent the opposing team to the free-throw line 25 times, where they made 21 free throws, shooting 84%.

Orange Preview: Do the Orange Stand a Chance at Home?

Syracuse improved to 10-12 on the season with a 75-66 road win over Cal on Saturday. The Orange entered the game as +5.5 point underdogs and not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread.

Syracuse jumped out to a 40-23 lead at halftime, but Cal made things interesting by outscoring the Orange 43-35 in the second half. The game’s total points of 141 fell short of the 149.5 O/U line.

Orange Offense Breakdown

Syracuse's offense put up 75 points in their last game, shooting 46.3% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc, hitting 8 of 16 threes. Their effective field goal percentage was 53.7%, and they were strong at the free-throw line, making 17 of 20 attempts for 85%.

Lucas Taylor was efficient, hitting 3 of 5 threes and shooting 62.5% overall, finishing with 19 points and 7 rebounds. Jeremiah Wilkinson and Jovan Blacksher Jr. each scored 20 points, though Wilkinson struggled from deep, making just 2 of 13 threes.

Orange Team Defense

Despite Syracuse giving up 17 offensive rebounds, their defense held strong, allowing just 66 points on 28% shooting from the field. The Orange limited their opponent to 42% shooting on two-pointers, with 12 makes on 28 attempts.

Syracuse's defense was particularly effective from beyond the arc, where they held their opponent to 17% shooting, with just 6 made threes on 35 attempts. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 30 times, where they made 24, shooting 80%.

Blue Devils vs Orange Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

  • Although Duke has a straight up record of 9-1 in their last ten road games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 8-2. The team averaged 76 points per game in these games.
  • In their last five home games, Syracuse has averaged 72 points per game while allowing 76. The team's record in this stretch was 2-3 while going 4-1.
  • Looking back on the team's last three games as the underdog, the Orange have a straight up record of 1-2. Their record vs the spread in these games was 3-0.
  • Through their last five games as the favorite, the Blue Devils have an ATS record of 3-2 and a straight up mark of 5-0.

Duke vs Syracuse Prediction & Free Pick

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