The No. 4 Duke Blue Devils try to finish a doubtful streak after they meet the top-seeded Houston Cougars within the South Area Candy 16 of the 2024 NCAA Match on Friday. Duke (26-8), which rolled previous Vermont and James Madison in its first two March Insanity video games, has misplaced six straight conferences with higher-seeded groups in “The Massive Dance.” Houston (32-4) is seeking to match the single-season program file for victories after defeating Longwood and Texas A&M. The Cougars set the varsity mark of 33 wins in 2018-19 and tied it final season.
Tipoff from American Airways Heart in Dallas is about for 9:39 p.m. ET. The Cougars are 4.5-point favorites within the newest Houston vs. Duke odds through SportsLine consensus, whereas the over/below for whole factors scored is 134.5. Earlier than making any Duke vs. Houston picks, it is advisable take a look at the faculty basketball predictions and betting recommendation from SportsLine professional Zack Cimini.
A Las Vegas handicapper who’s by no means afraid to buck standard knowledge, Cimini entered the Candy 16 as SportsLine’s most worthwhile faculty basketball professional. He is 83-58-2 on his final 143 faculty basketball picks, returning $1,880 for $100 gamers. Anybody following him has seen large returns.
Now, Cimini has his sights on Duke vs. Houston and simply locked in his Candy 16 predictions. You may go to SportsLine now to see his picks. Listed here are the faculty basketball traces and developments for Houston vs. Duke:
- Duke vs. Houston unfold: Cougars -4.5
- Duke vs. Houston over/below: 134.5 factors
- Duke vs. Houston cash line: Cougars -203, Blue Devils +165
- HOU: The Cougars are 6-12 in opposition to the unfold of their final 18 video games as favorites on the highway or at impartial websites
- DUKE: The Blue Devils are 20-13-1 ATS this season
- Duke vs. Houston picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Houston can cowl
The Cougars have recorded not less than 32 victories in 4 of their final six seasons and every of the previous three, tying them for the third-longest such streak through the NCAA Match period. They’ve amassed 125 wins over their final 4 campaigns, probably the most within the nation in that span and most in a four-year stretch in program historical past. Houston ranks first within the nation in factors allowed (57.7) and opponents’ field-goal proportion (37.I 8%), and it appears to develop into the primary workforce to steer Division I in each classes since Princeton in 1976-77.
Emanuel Sharp has been the Cougars’ prime scorer throughout March Insanity with 43 factors. The sophomore guard scored 13 within the first-round victory in opposition to Longwood and made seven photographs from past the arc en path to a career-high 30 versus Texas A&M final Sunday, tying this system file for many 3-pointers in an NCAA Match recreation set in 2019 by Corey Davis Jr. Senior guard L.J. Cryer, who’s first on Houston with a median of 15.5 factors, shared the workforce lead with 17 within the opening-round win and poured in 20 within the second-round additional time conquer the Aggies. See which workforce to choose right here.
Why Duke can cowl
The Blue Devils are 9-7 all-time in opposition to No. 1 seeds within the NCAA Match and want to snap a tie with North Carolina for many wins in such matchups. Their 38-point conquer James Madison within the second spherical was the third-largest in program historical past within the Spherical of 32 or later throughout March Insanity. Guard Jared McCain was 10-for-15 total and 8-for-11 from past the arc en path to a game-high 30 factors.
McCain set the varsity file for many 3-pointers in an NCAA Match recreation and joined Zion Williamson as the one freshmen ever to succeed in the 30-point plateau in “The Massive Dance” for the Blue Devils. Sophomore guard Tyrese Proctor recorded 18 factors and 5 assists in opposition to James Madison, whereas senior guard Jeremy Roach added 15 and 7, respectively. Sophomore heart Kyle Filipowski bounced again from a disappointing three-point efficiency versus Vermont within the opening spherical by scoring 14 factors on 6-of-8 taking pictures whereas accumulating 5 rebounds and 4 assists. See which workforce to choose right here.
Methods to make Houston vs. Duke picks
Cimini has analyzed Houston vs. Duke from each angle, and whereas we will inform you he is leaning Below the purpose whole, he additionally has found a crucial X-factor that has him leaping throughout one facet of the unfold. He is sharing what it’s, and which facet to again, solely at SportsLine.
Who wins Houston vs. Duke, and which crucial X-factor makes one facet of the unfold a must-back? Go to SportsLine now to see which facet of the Duke vs. Houston unfold hits exhausting, all from the professional who’s 83-58 on his faculty basketball picks, and discover out.