The Miami Hurricanes had the look of a Final Four contender earlier in the season, but after losing to both Clemson and Virginia, this is barely a Top 25 team. Of course, the Canes are smoking hot in relation to the team they'll see on the other side of the court on Monday night, the Duke Blue Devils.
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HOW THE DUKE BLUE DEVILS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
The Dookies aren't known for their defense, but that's quite alright when you've got five men who are basically assured of getting near or into double-digits in scoring night in and night out. Duke averages 85.6 points per game, and it has to get back to its ways of running up and down the floor in this one.
Of course, part of the problem which Coach K has at the moment is the fact that he's really only using six men in his rotation, which is forcing Marshall Plumlee and others who aren't used to playing 35+ minutes per game to virtually never leave the court. This lack of depth could really show itself on Monday considering the fact that just 48 hours prior to the game in Miami, the Blue Devils will have to take on N.C. State in Raleigh.
The Canes though, are in the same noticeable problem playing on Saturday followed by Monday, and the key to winning on Monday might be whether these players can get a blow on Saturday or not.
Otherwise, Grayson Allen is going to have to have another 20+ point game, Plumlee is going to have to have another double-double, Matt Jones and Brandon Ingram are going to have to hit their outside shots, and Luke Kennard is going to have to be the glue that holds it all together with his slashes to the basket and his fine ball handling. There simply aren't any other options to turn to at this point.
HOW THE MIAMI HURRICANES CAN COVER THE SPREAD
This Miami team always overachieved in the first portion of the season, and we think it's set to catch up to it as the ACC season wears on.
The offense though, has to be better than it has been for the most part here in ACC play. This is a team which averages 79.4 points per game, but you wouldn't know it based on what we've seen thus far in conference.
Sheldon McClellan, Ja'Quan Newton and Angel Rodriguez are relatively consistently getting their points, but Davon Reed, Tonye Jekiri, Ivan Cruz Uceda and Kamari Murphy just aren't showing up consistently. These middle of the lineup men are the ones who have to still be a vital part of the game plan on a night where Duke is almost certainly going to get into the 70s. If the Hurricanes want to win this one, they'd better have their best scoring output of the ACC season.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
The best news for the Hurricanes is that they're back at home after three straight ACC contests on the road. We'll be a little concerned about them if they get challenged by Wake Forest on Saturday, but more likely than not, they'll be sporting a 7-2 ATS home record when the Blue Devils roll into Coral Gables on Monday night.
When really talented teams lose players, it tends to hurt more than if the little teams lose superstars. There's just something about the delicate fabric of a team which has seven or eight tremendously talented players on it getting wrecked by one injury. That's what Duke is going through with Amile Jefferson, and we don't think it's going to live to tell about this game either on Monday night.
Miami 79, Duke 73
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