Virginia Tech Hokies vs Duke Blue Devils NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/31/24
Betting on today’s Hokies and Blue Devils game? Catch the action at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, NC, as the Blue Devils hosts this showdown at 4:30 ET on ACCN. The over/under for this game is set at 136 points, and Duke is favored by -24.5 vs. Virginia Tech in a Atlantic Coast conference matchup.
VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES VS DUKE BLUE DEVILS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Virginia Tech Hokies +24.5
This game will be played at Cameron Indoor Stadium at 4:30 ET on Tuesday, December 31st.
WHY BET THE VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-70 in favor of the Blue Devils.
- Even though we have Duke winning straight-up, we like Virginia Tech at +24.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 136 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.
Can Virginia Tech Pull Off A Win at Cameron Indoor Stadium?
Virginia Tech dropped to 5-7 on the season after an 82-62 loss to Saint Joseph’s on Saturday, December 21st. The Hokies were +3 point underdogs going into the game and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 144, surpassing the O/U line of 140.5.
After trailing 32-30 at halftime, Virginia Tech struggled in the 2nd half, allowing 50 points while scoring only 32.
In their recent game, Virginia Tech’s offense put up 62 points, shooting 40.7% from the field and 31.8% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 48.1%, and they connected on 11 of 13 free throws, hitting 84.6% from the line.
Erik Reynolds II led the way with 25 points, shooting 52.6% overall and 45.5% from three. Derek Simpson added 18 points, hitting 50% from the field and 4 of 8 from deep, while also dishing out 6 assists.
Even with Virginia Tech holding their opponent to 40% shooting, they still gave up 82 points. The Hokies allowed 46% shooting from two-point range, with the other team hitting 15 of their 32 attempts.
From beyond the arc, Virginia Tech’s defense saw their opponent make 7 of 22 threes, a 31% success rate. The Hokies also sent the other team to the line 13 times, where they converted 11 free throws, shooting 84%.
Will the Blue Devils Come Through as Home Favorites?
Duke moved to 10-2 on the season with an 82-56 road win over Georgia Tech on Saturday. The Blue Devils, who were -15.5 favorites, covered the spread with the victory. The total points for the game reached 138, falling just short of the 143.5 O/U line.
Duke led 41-36 at halftime but clamped down defensively in the 2nd half, holding Georgia Tech to just 20 points while scoring 41 themselves.
Duke’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 82 points while shooting 56.4% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 65.5%, thanks in part to their 70% shooting on two-pointers (21/30) and 40% from beyond the arc (10/25).
Kon Knueppel led the way with 18 points, hitting 4 of 8 from three-point range and adding 5 assists. Khaman Maluach was perfect from the field, going 5 for 5 and finishing with 15 points and 8 rebounds in just 21 minutes.
Defensively, Duke was solid, holding their opponent to just 56 points on 36% shooting from the field. The Blue Devils were particularly effective inside, limiting their opponent to 36% shooting on two-point attempts (15/41).
From beyond the arc, Duke allowed 6 threes on 17 attempts, with their opponent shooting 35% from deep. The Blue Devils also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 10 times, where they converted 8 attempts (80%).