Commencing with any conversation about the Syracuse Orange is their famed 2-3 zone defense. Head coach Jim Boeheim has made a Hall of Fame career out of his patented stop strategy. But what has come to frustrate fans and gamblers in recent years is the lack of offensive production by the Cuse. When it comes to lighting up the scoreboard the Duke Blue Devils can do so like few others. The nation’s top ranked team is pouring in the points without sacrificing defense. Most important of all Duke is a great public betting NCAA basketball value.
Syracuse Orange vs. Duke Blue Devils
Date and Time: Monday, January 14, 2019, 7 p.m. ET
Location: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, North Carolina
NCAA Betting Online Odds at SBG: Click Here!
Syracuse vs. Duke TV Coverage: ESPN
Duke Blue Devils
Duke has been in excellent form recently with six payouts in their last seven games. And just one of those seven games went over the total. Overall the Blue Devils have a record of 12-1 straight up, 9-4 against the spread, and 3-9-1 under the total. RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson lead the Duke squad. As an example, Barrett is averaging 22.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Meanwhile Williamson averages 20.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per outing. Duke ranks third in the nation for scoring offense and 34th for points allowed.
Syracuse Orange
Syracuse has had a bump up in play with three payouts in their last four games to end a bad slump on the board. As a result, the Orange are now 10-4 straight up, 7-7 vs. the odds, and 5-9 under the total. Certainly, Jim Boeheim’s team is operating on the extremes. Offensively Syracuse ranks 244th for scoring offense. But offsetting that is a defense that ranks 17th in the country for points allowed. Tyus Battle leads the offense with 17.9 points per game.
Stats to Consider
Syracuse has been a decent wagering value as a road dog. Late on the Orange has covered the public betting NCAA basketball line in three of their last five as away pups. Three of their last four in that role went under the total. Counter to that is Duke’s dominance of the cashier’s cage at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils have covered 11 of their last 13 as a home chalk. And 14 of their last 16 in that situation went under the total.
Team vs. Team
Head to head Syracuse has offered surprising online offshore bookmaker value against Duke. In fact, the Orange have paid in three of their last four meetings with the Blue Devils. Three of the last five between these teams went under the total. But at Cameron Indoor Stadium the Orange have covered just one of their last four visits. And all four games stayed under the total.
Matchup to Watch
As has been noted Duke has quite the home court matchup edge for public betting NCAA basketball. Additionally, they have far greater balance than Syracuse. Indeed, it is difficult to back an Orange team at Cameron Indoor Stadium with such an inept offense.
Syracuse vs. Duke NCAA games Betting Odds Picks
In this situation Duke rates as the better team and value.
Syracuse vs. Duke NCAA Betting Online Pick: Duke Blue Devils
Syracuse vs. Duke NCAA Betting Online Score Prediction: Duke 89, Syracuse 71
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