7 p.m. ET – Syracuse at Duke (-6) O/U: 148
| Teams | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse | +6 (-105) | +205 | O 148 (-110) |
| Duke | -6 (-115) | -255 | U 148 (-110) |
The 13-6 Orange travel to Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina on Monday night to take on the 10-8 Blue Devils in an Atlantic Coast Conference showdown of great importance to both sides. Syracuse was down 20 points early in the second half on Saturday but created enough havoc with its full-court press to rally for a comeback win over Notre Dame. Duke has won three games in a row, taking down then-No.7 Virginia on Saturday, 66-65.
Duke is playing its best basketball of the season, despite star forward Jalen Johnson opting out of the remainder of the season last week. Both the Blue Devils and the Orange need to bolster their NCAA tournament resumes before Selection Sunday and that makes Monday night’s matchup a must-win for both programs.
The must-win scenario for both teams will undoubtedly rachet up the intensity for this game. Syracuse is led by committee, with all five starters averaging double figures. Buddy Boeheim is one of three players averaging 15.2 points per game for the Orangemen and is fresh off a season-high 29 pts on 6-of-10 shooting from 3-point range against Notre Dame.
The Orangemen play at a significantly faster pace than Virginia and are more efficient on the offensive end than the Blue Devils’ other opponents in their three-game winning streak. The pace in this game should be fast. With both teams’ recent success shooting the basketball, this game should soar past the Over-Under total of 148. With the outcome uncertain because it truly could go either way, the best play for this contest is the Over.
*Odds courtesy of MyBookie
