The Syracuse Orange (13-8, 6-4 ACC) and their great offense welcome the ninth-ranked Duke Blue Devils (17-3, 7-2 ACC) and their stifling defense. The game starts at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 1, 2020, and will air on ESPN.
Duke Blue Devils vs. Syracuse Orange Betting Odds
In their last game, the Orange lost a winnable game to the Clemson Tigers, 71-70, while the Blue Devils defeated the Pittsburgh Panthers, 79-67.
Duke played a nearly perfect game. They had a fantastic offensive rebounding percentage of 38.9 (above their season average of 36.4) and an effective field goal percentage of 0.556 (above their season average of 0.544). For those same stats, Pittsburgh recorded marks of 30.3 and 0.474, respectively. Syracuse, on the other hand, forced Clemson into a turnover percentage of 21.3 (above their season average of 16.1). Syracuse was lifted by Elijah Hughes, who had 22 points and five steals. Vernon Carey Jr. played well for Duke, finishing with 26 points and 13 rebounds.
The Blue Devils captured this series last year, winning two out of three games. In the last game, Duke won 84-72. The Blue Devils’ offensive rebounding percentage was their biggest strength over the Orange. Duke had a rate of 41.9, while Syracuse posted a mark of 26.5. This will be the first matchup of the year between these two teams.
The game should be a showdown of strength against strength as the prolific offense of Syracuse takes on the elite defense of Duke. The Orange rank 48th in offensive efficiency, while the Blue Devils are 12th in defensive efficiency. This game should be a showdown of conflicting styles. The quick-paced Blue Devils rank 53rd in possessions per game, while the more methodical Orange rank 299th.
Duke Blue Devils at Syracuse Orange Pick
Pick: SU Winner – Syracuse, ATS Winner – Syracuse, O/U – Under
Betting Notes:
- Duke ranks sixth in three pointers allowed per game (15.8) while Syracuse ranks 271st (29.6).
- The Orange rank 33rd in blocks allowed per game (2.6) while the Blue Devils rank 129th (3.6).
- Syracuse averages 7.3 steals per game, which ranks 76th in the NCAA. Duke ranks 169th in steals allowed per game (7.3).
- The Blue Devils average 16.6 assists per game, which ranks 13th in the country. The Orange rank 256th in assists allowed per game (17.0).
- Duke ranks 30th in rebounds per game (39.8) while Syracuse ranks 183rd in rebounds allowed per game (36.0).
Bettings Trends:
- During their last five games, the Blue Devils have scored an average of 80.6 points per game (2.1 below their season average) and allowed an average of 68.6 points per game (4.5 above their season average).
- The Orange’s average margin of victory in their last five games has been 7.4, up from 7.0 for the season.
