The top-ranked Duke Blue Devils (4-0) and California Bears (4-0) hook up in the 2K Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2. We analyze the Duke-California odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.
Duke vs. California: Three things you need to know
1. The Blue Devils are back at Madison Square Garden for the second time already this season, as they topped Kansas 68-66 Nov. 5 to win outright as a 2.5-point underdog.
2. Duke has posted a 3-1 ATS mark, but it failed to cover last time out against Georgia State in a 74-63 win at Cameron Indoor Stadium Nov. 15.
3. Cal is also 3-1 ATS in its four outings, and it also failed to cover last time out, narrowly escaping defeat as 15-point favorites against Prairie View A&M, 54-50.
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Duke vs. California: Odds, betting lines and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:20 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Duke 88, California 66
Moneyline (ML)
There was no moneyline listed at the time of publishing.
Against the Spread (ATS)
DUKE (-19.5, -110) is much deeper than California (+19.5, -110) as it has four players averaging double-digit points. G Tre Jones leads the way with 17.0 PPG and 5.8 APG, while C Vernon Carey Jr. has posted 14.8 PPG, newcomer G Cassius Stanley has 13.0 PPG and 1.8 SPG and F Matthew Hurt has racked up 10.8 PPG.
Cal has G Matt Bradley going for 20.0 PPG, but then it is a steep drop-off after that, with just two others in double-digits – and just barely. Bradley has averaged 3.0 turnovers per game, too, and that’s an area Cal has had some trouble. The Bears have 59 turnovers to 46 assists, including a negative ratio for Bradley. That might fly against the Prairie Views of the world, but not against Duke.
Over/Under (O/U)
The OVER (136.5, –106) is the play of the night in this one, even though the under is 5-2 in Duke’s past seven neutral-site games and 5-1 in Cal’s past six neutral-site battles. The Blue Devils are rolling up 84.0 PPG in four contests, while Cal is averaging 75.5 PPG in its four games. This won should be well in excess of the total.
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