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The 12th-seeded James Madison Dukes (32-3) battle the 4th-seeded Duke Blue Devils (25-8) in a 2nd-round South Region matchup Sunday. Tip-off from Barclays Center in Brooklyn is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. ET (CBS). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the James Madison vs. Duke odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
James Madison knocked off 5th-seeded Wisconsin 72-61 in the 1st round Friday to cover as a 5.5-point underdog. G Terrence Edwards Jr. scored a team-high 14 points, and 4 JMU players scored in double figures. The Dukes shot 41.1% from the field in the win.
Duke, which is ranked No. 14 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, took down 13th-seeded Vermont 64-47 Friday to cover as an 11.5-point favorite. F Mark Mitchell and G Jared McCain each scored a team-high 15 points and were 2 of 4 Duke players to score in double figures. The Blue Devils shot 42.2% from the field in the win.
James Madison vs. Duke odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook’s; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 6:45 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): James Madison +250 (bet $100 to win $250) | Duke -300 (bet $300 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): James Madison +7.5 (-110) | Duke -7.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 148.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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James Madison vs. Duke picks and predictions
Prediction
James Madison 70, Duke 69
Moneyline
BET JAMES MADISON (+250).
While Duke is the better team overall, James Madison has been playing its best basketball of the season. The Dukes have won 14 games in a row and present a tough matchup for the Blue Devils.
While Duke stepped up in a big way on defense Friday, offensively it had to rely on a few key players to get the job done. C Kyle Filipowski grabbed 12 rebounds in the win, but was nowhere to be seen on the offensive side of the ball.
Duke will not be able to get away with the lack of ball movement it showed against Vermont, and if James Madison can stick around early, it will put Duke on upset alert quickly.
Against the spread
PASS.
There is better value on the Dukes’ moneyline.
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Over/Under
BET UNDER 148.5 (-115).
Both Duke and James Madison hit the Under in their 1st-round matchups with each team holding its opponent to 61 or fewer points.
For JMU to stay in the game, it will have to control the pace, which will result in fewer scoring opportunities from both sides. While you can expect Duke to try to get out and push the ball, the Dukes displayed their defensive abilities in their upset win over Wisconsin.
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