The 2024 Champions Traditional returns to Atlanta for the primary time in a dozen years, with Duke vs. Kentucky highlighting the occasion on Tuesday evening. The No. 6 Blue Devils (2-0) received every of their first two video games by 34-plus factors and are coming off an Elite Eight look a 12 months in the past. The No. 19 Wildcats (2-0) have reached 100 factors in each video games this 12 months after struggling a first-round March Insanity defeat in 2023-24. Duke has received 9 of the final 11 conferences between the 2, together with a victory after they final met in 2021. The Champions Traditional introduced on Tuesday that the occasion will proceed to be held yearly via at the least 2028.
Tipoff is at 9 p.m. ET from State Farm Enviornment. The Blue Devils are 5.5-point favorites within the newest Kentucky vs. Duke odds, per SportsLine consensus. The over/underneath for complete factors is 159.5 as each groups have hit the Over in each their video games up to now. Earlier than making any Duke vs. Kentucky picks or faculty basketball predictions, take a look at the faculty basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Mannequin.
The mannequin simulates each Division 1 faculty basketball recreation 10,000 occasions. It enters Week 2 of the 2024-25 season on a 155-110 betting roll (+2102) on all top-rated faculty basketball picks courting again to 2023. Anybody following at sportsbooks and on betting apps has seen big returns.
The mannequin has set its sights on Kentucky vs. Duke. You’ll be able to head to SportsLine to see its picks. Listed here are a number of faculty basketball betting traces and developments for Duke vs. Kentucky:
- Kentucky vs. Duke unfold: Duke -5.5
- Kentucky vs. Duke over/underneath: 159.5 factors
- Kentucky vs. Duke cash line: Duke -242, Kentucky +196
- UK: The Over is 25-10 for Kentucky for the reason that begin of final season
- DUKE: The Blue Devils are 12-4 ATS in non-conference video games since final season
- Kentucky vs. Duke State picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Kentucky vs. Duke State streaming: FuboTV (Strive free of charge)
Why you need to again Kentucky
New Kentucky coach Mark Pope had BYU ranked 14th nationally in offensive effectivity final season, and his contact on the Wildcats is already obvious this season. UK scored 103 factors in a season-opening win over Wright State, earlier than a 100-point outing in opposition to Bucknell. It is the primary time in eight years that the Wildcats have had back-to-back video games hitting triple-digits. They’ve additionally saved each opponents underneath 40% from the sphere, with quite a few particular person standouts.
Amari Williams, who transferred in after being a three-time CAA Defensive Participant of the 12 months winner at Drexel, has notched double-doubles in each video games. In the meantime, Koby Brea, who received A-10 Sixth Man of the 12 months twice at Dayton, has been lighting up the scoreboard as a Wildcat reserve. He is averaging 19 factors on a blistering 83.3% from three-point vary. UK also can take consolation in the truth that Duke is simply 6-9 ATS versus ranked groups since Jon Scheyer took over in 2022. See which staff to select right here.
Why you need to again Duke
Duke’s No. 1 incoming class is highlighted by the highest general freshman in Cooper Flagg, who has crammed up the stat sheet in his two video games. He is averaging 15.5 factors, 9.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks, however he isn’t even the Blue Devils’ main scorer up to now. That honor goes to fellow five-star freshman Kon Knueppel, who’s averaging 18.5 factors. Holdover Blue Devils in Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster are each averaging in double-figures and supply continuity to a staff with 10 new gamers.
One other factor Duke hopes to proceed in 2024-25 is its unfold success when venturing outdoors the ACC. Duke is 12-4 ATS in non-conference video games for the reason that begin of final season, with that 75% cowl fee being the fourth-best amongst all power-conference groups. Moreover, over the past 10 neutral-site conferences between these groups, the Blue Devils have felt at house as they’ve received eight of the ten matchups. See which staff to select right here.
Tips on how to make Kentucky vs. Duke picks
SportsLine’s mannequin has simulated Duke vs. Kentucky 10,000 occasions and is leaning Beneath on the whole, projecting 159 mixed factors. It additionally says one aspect of the unfold hits in properly over 60% of simulations. You’ll be able to solely get the decide at SportsLine.
So who wins Kentucky vs. Duke, and which aspect of the unfold cashes in properly over 60% of simulations? Go to SportsLine now to see which aspect of the Duke vs. Kentucky unfold to leap on, all from the superior mannequin that’s up over $2,100 on its faculty basketball picks courting again to 2023, and discover out.
