Published Feb 20, 9:51pm ET by
Gabriel Kozlow - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Feb 20, 9:51pm ET
Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. hosts the game of the week as the Duke Blue Devils take on the Michigan Wolverines. This is a rare non-conference matchup between two of the best teams in the country, played on neutral territory.
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| DUKE BLUE DEVILS | +2.5 (-105) |
| MICHIGAN WOLVERINES | -2.5 (-105) |
Wolverines Aim to Protect No. 1 RankingThe No. 1 team in the country, the Michigan Wolverines, are 25–1 and looking to show they can beat a top opponent on a neutral floor. Each team belongs to a different conference, so this could easily be a tournament-style preview, with real implications for both teams’ March Madness odds to win it all.
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The Wolverines have the 4th-best scoring offense in the nation at around 90.6 PPG. They are currently on an 11-game win streak and are looking to complement that firepower with their solid defensive schemes. Their elite rim protector, Aday Mara, will have a crucial role, trying to match up with Cameron Boozer from Duke in the paint.
The Duke Blue Devils are looking to own the District and strengthen their national title résumé with a win against Michigan. They have a 24–2 record and are 13–1 in the ACC, currently ranked No. 3 in the country. They will rely heavily on their elite defense and their alpha player, Cameron Boozer.
Duke has already beaten top teams like Kansas, Arkansas, Michigan State, Florida, and Louisville, so they are eager to add Michigan to their list of victims. This No. 1 vs No. 3 showdown will definitely shake up the March Madness predictions in the coming weeks.
This rivalry dates back to the 1960s, highlighted by the famous 1992 National Championship Game. Duke has won the last three meetings, but heads into this one as the underdog. Michigan is -2.5 on the spread, with an over/under of 148.5. The moneyline is -142 for Michigan and +120 for Duke.
This is a really tough game to predict, but Michigan is playing outstanding basketball at the moment. We are slightly inclined toward the Wolverines -2.5, so that is our recommended pick for this game.
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Pick
Michigan Wolverines -2.5
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