The Clemson Tigers have had a heck of a start to the ACC season. They've had to play against some of the toughest teams in the nation in succession, and they've easily turned themselves from an ACC has-been to a team which might be on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble. After pulling off upsets against Florida State, Syracuse and Louisville, could the Duke Blue Devils be next?
You can bet on college basketball odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
HOW THE DUKE BLUE DEVILS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
The Dookies have to start this game in a hurry. They've had a history of playing really well in the first half of games, and they've successfully run so many teams off the court before the game really had a chance to get started.
With Amile Jefferson out of the lineup, the Blue Devils are going to need one of two things. They're either going to need really good play from Marshall Plumlee, who has answered the bell for sure as a starting big man, or they're going to need outstanding guard play.
The problem with the latter is that Clemson really doesn't have a huge lineup. The Blue Devils would be in a lot better shape if Jefferson was healthy for sure in this game.
HOW THE CLEMSON TIGERS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
For the most part, the Tigers have simply been the more aggressive team on the court in these last three upsets. They've consistently driven to the basket, have consistently created contact, and they've gotten to the foul line a ton.
The Tigers have to keep this game in the half court. Running with Duke surely isn't going to work for a team which doesn't have all that many offensive weapons. There's a reason Clemson averages just 69.6 points per game in spite of the fact that it has played so well at the outset of the ACC season.
Keep an eye on Jordan Roper as well, who has had three double-digit scoring games out of four. In the one against Syracuse in which he only scored two points, he had three assists. Point guard play is so darn important against the Blue Devils, and Roper will find that out for sure.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Clemson has been fantastic in recent weeks, but this run is going to have to come to an end at some point. All of these middling teams hit the end of the road at some point, and this should be the game where that happens.
Grayson Allen, Brandon Ingram, Matt Jones and Luke Kennard can all go off at the drop of a hat. Clemson just doesn't have the playmakers to be able to keep up with in a game that could get away from them real quick.
Just as we saw the Tigers ultimately get run off the court against North Carolina, we're going to see a similar result here. This just isn't a good matchup for Clemson, and when you throw in the fact that bettors are going to be all over it for an upset, the makings are here for the chalk to hold.
Duke 88, Clemson 69
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone or tablet with BookMaker's new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The game between the Duke Blue Devils and the Clemson Tigers will start at 7:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
