UCF vs. Duke Prediction
Will top-seeded Duke have any trouble in its NCAA Tournament second round game when it faces No. 9 Central Florida today at 5:15PM ET in the East Region?
863 Central Florida vs. 864 Duke
Sunday, March 24, 2019
5:15PM ET – Colonial Life Arena
TV: CBS
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Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, Duke is the favorite in this game, as the Blue Devils are getting odds of -13 points against Central Florida. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 143.5 points. The public betting currently has 72 percent going on Duke as the favorite. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our College Basketball Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
UCF rolls past VCU
Central Florida rolls to a 73-58 win over VCU on Friday to advance to the second round of the tournament. That snapped a 2-game losing and failed cover streak for UCF. The Knights are 24-8 on the season, 4-1 on a neutral floor, 19-12-1 against the spread and 16-15-1 with the over.
The Knights are a strong defensive team, allowing just 64.1 points per game while holding opponents to 39.2 percent shooting. Offensively, UCF is putting up 72.2 points per game while shooting 46.4 percent from the field. Tacko Fall is leading the team with 13 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks while Aubrey Dawkins is adding 14 points and seven rebounds.
Duke wins, doesn’t cover
Duke got a little bit of a challenge from North Dakota State on Friday, but pulled away in the second half for an 85-62 victory. That didn’t cover as 27.5-point spread. The Blue Devils are just 2-5-1 against the spread in their last eight. Duke is 30-5 on the season, 8-1 on a neutral floor, 18-16-1 against the spread and 24-9-2 with the under.
The Blue Devils are one of the top offensive teams in the country, putting up 83.5 points per game while shooting 47.8 percent from the field. They aren’t a good 3-point shooting team, as they hit just 30.5 percent from the arc. Defensively, Duke is giving up 67.4 points per game while opponents shoot 39.4 percent from the field. RJ Barrett had 26 points and 14 rebounds to lead Duke in the win on Friday while Zion Williamson had 25 points on 12 of 16 shooting.
College Basketball Betting Trends
Central Florida
The Knights are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven following a win and 12-4 ATS in their last 16 non-conference games.
Duke
The Blue Devils are just 1-8 ATS in their last nine games following a win and 4-1 ATS in their last five non-conference games.
Prediction:
Tacko Fall stands 7-6 and could be a factor in this game in keeping Duke from dominating the paint. However, I think he will struggle with the athleticism of Barret and Williamson. Fall only has five fouls he can give, so I sense Duke is going to continue to attack him and force him out of the game. From there, the Blue Devils will have free range to roll along and cruise past UCF.
College Basketball Prediction: Duke -13