A huge game is set to tip-off on Big Monday from Cameron Indoor Stadium where the Duke Blue Devils will be out to earn a fifth straight win against a Florida State Seminoles outfit it’s currently fighting with for the No. 2 seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament. Should Louisville crash back down to earth in the coming weeks, the winner of this game would have an opportunity to seize control of the ACC and with it the No. 1 seed that comes with it. With that, much will be on the line when the Dookies attempt to avoid letting down after taking on the hated North Carolina Tar Heels over the weekend. If they do, you can bet your bottom dollar at online sportsbooks that Leonard Hamilton’s troops will do their best to take advantage.
This Big Monday skirmish will take place on Monday, February 10, 2020. Tip-off will be at 7 p.m. ET from Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, NC. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN. So make sure to fill out your March Madness Bracket today!
CBB Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Odds Analysis
The Noles likely enter this tilt winners of three straight with Devin Vassell and company running up against a Miami Hurricanes outfit over the weekend that stands 11-11 SU overall and 3-9 in conference play. Prior to that, FSU bounced back nicely from its second loss in the ACC to Virginia by disposing of both Virginia Tech in a covering fashion and North Carolina. Though they ultimately failed to cover the inflated number against the Tar Heels, Florida State was able to keep Cole Anthony and company at an arm’s length to secure the 65-59 triumph a week ago to the day. They’ll invade Durham 7-3 SU and 5-5 ATS playing away from Tallahassee.
The Dookies had rattled off four straight wins entering Saturday night’s overhyped matchup with UNC. Since dropping successive games to Clemson on the road and The Ville at home, the Blue Devils got the best of Miami, PITT, Syracuse and Boston College with the last two matchups played away from Cameron Indoor. They only managed to split the proceedings against the closing college basketball odds due to the fact that it was laying some exorbitant chalk. That shouldn’t be the case tonight. While ranked No. 7 overall and No. 2 per the current Pomeroy Ratings, I still don’t believe Duke is nearly as good as its rankings suggest; only time will tell.
Key Stat
Will the Seminoles be able to get the calls from the refs on the road in a hostile environment? If history is any sort of indicator, the answer to that question will without a doubt be a resounding no! What zebra has ever tested their fate at Cameron Indoor with the “Crazies” letting them know their opinion with reckless abandon? It’s a darn shame too since FSU holds a decisive advantage in the free throw shooting department. The Noles rank No. 19 in the country at the charity stripe, but only take an average of 17 freebies per game (No. 234). Their inability to draw fouls could hinder them from taking advantage of their prowess at the line. As for the Dookies, they shoot a horrid 69.2 percent as a team from the line (No. 222), but average 18.5 fouls called in their favor per game (No. 111). As competitive this games is destined to be, the team that ultimately excels at the free throw line wins and likely covers.
Prediction
Vernon Carey Jr. has been playing like a man possessed in recent weeks going for double-doubles in the three games played prior to Saturday’s showdown with the Tar Heels. After likely having his hands full with UNC’s stout defenders down low, this matchup with the Noles won’t be a walk in the park either. FSU ranks No. 44 in the country in 2-point defense and swats away an average of 5.7 shots per game (No. 9). They’re stout defenders of the paint and will make it rough for the Dookies uber-frosh to succeed. But as good the Seminoles are at protecting the rim, they play a matador style of defense when it comes to manning the perimeter. The Noles rank No. 165 in 3-point defense which has seen a whopping 33 percent (No. 247) of the 64.1 points they’ve conceded per game come from the Land of 3. Though the Dookies haven’t lived up to being the lethal 3-point shooting team they’ve been in years past, there are some capable shooters on this roster. With that, look for Tre Jones and the gang to come up with the big conversions when needed to put some separation on the board that allows them to win and cover this huge ACC skirmish.
College Basketball Pick: Duke 71, Florida State 65
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