Duke at Clemson odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Duke Blue Devils vs. Clemson Tigers sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks and tips.

The Duke Blue Devils (15-1, 5-0 ACC) – the No. 3 team in the USA Today Sports Coaches Poll – travel to Clemson, S.C., to square off against the Clemson Tigers (8-7, 2-3) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Littlejohn Coliseum. We analyze the Duke-Clemson odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.

Duke at Clemson: Three things you need to know

1. Clemson has played just three games over the last 15 days. The Tigers aren’t a good shooting team to begin with, ranking 255th in the country with a 42.4% field-goal percentage. Any rust and their 253rd-ranked offense (68.7 points per game) will be game-controlled into submission in a double-digit boat race. … Clemson lost by 19 at Duke (Jan. 5, 2019) in the last meeting between the two schools as the Blue Devils covered a 15-point spread.

2. Clemson figures as a second-50 squad in most advanced-analytics computer rankings. The Blue Devils have played five such foes this year. In those comps, Duke is 5-0 with a victory margin of 11 points. While this applies to a straight-up loss more than an against-the-spread defeat, the Devils’ Nov. 26 upset at the hands of Stephen F. Austin could well have a galvanizing effect against any subsequent similar failings. Duke has game-controlled nine wins since (6-3 ATS). Figure the Blue Devils’ next loss – whenever that may be – coming to a top-15.

3. Duke’s best defensive efforts are up close in the rear-view mirror. The Devils have excelled in creating more turnovers of late, all while taking care of the basketball on their own possessions. That’s a solid formula for avoiding close games.


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Duke at Clemson: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Duke 76, Clemson 63

Moneyline (ML)

AVOID. Duke (-589) is too chalky. Every $5.89 wagered will only profit $1 if the Blue Devils win. Clemson (+425) will profit $4.25 on every $1 bet if it prevails, but that isn’t happening.

Against the Spread (ATS)

The Blue Devils are 3-1 ATS over four road games, and they are 6-3 ATS in their last nine games. Clemson is 4-5 ATS over its last nine.

How much energy can the home crowd bring tonight at Littlejohn Coliseum? Bleary-eyed Tiger fans – slumping after Monday’s College Football Championship game – may not have much to cheer about in the second half. Take DUKE -10.5 (+100).

Over/Under (O/U)

The O/U is 2-2 in Duke’s road games and 5-5 in Clemson’s home games. Duke wants to play a faster pace in this one. A major offensive rebounding advantage for the Devils and a low rate of getting to the foul line for the Tigers should work against Clemson in its efforts to slow things down. Take the OVER 134.5 (-115).

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