Blue Devils to lower the boom on Tigers
‘Tis the season for more classroom finals than on-court exams. But will No. 5 Duke still be sharp enough to wallop Tennessee State tonight?
Back in action for the first time since Dec. 10, Mike Krzyzewski’s team welcomes the Tigers to Durham at 7 p.m. ET. Online sports book Bovada.lv gives the 10-1 Blue Devils odds of -1800 to handle their business at home. Conversely, Dana Ford’s troops typify +1200 underdogs.
In its most recent contest, Duke clobbered UNLV 94-55. Junior guard Grayson Allen exploded for 34 points, while freshman phenom Jayson Tatum chipped in with 13 and five rebounds. Another first-year player, forward Harry Giles, could make his long-awaited debut this evening.
Tennessee State probably doesn’t stand a chance of snapping the Dukies’ eight-game winning streak, but Dana Ford’s program has quietly turned itself into a legitimate threat in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Tigers are off to an 8-2 start for the second season in a row. Last week, they manhandled Alabama State 68-46.
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Nonetheless, the harsh reality is that Tennessee State’s winless in nine previous meetings against ACC adversaries. If Giles indeed hits the floor here, the atmosphere at Cameron Indoor Stadium will be certifiably insane. Take the hosts by 30-plus, and don’t think twice.
MONDAY NCAA FREE PICK: DUKE -26.5